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The descendants of Gustave Eiffel, opposed to maintaining the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower at least until 2028, as the mayor of Paris wishes, proposed on Sunday September 8 that the City could “transmit symbolically” in Los Angeles by the end of 2024. In a press release, the Association of Descendants of Gustave Eiffel (Adge) reaffirms its “unfavorable position” to the “definitive perpetuation of the rings […] beyond the Olympic year 2024, without any clear date of withdrawal announced.
On Friday, Anne Hidalgo reiterated her wish to see the rings attached to the Eiffel Tower, which belongs to the city, remain on the historic monument until the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028, “and even beyond”. This position, already expressed shortly after the opening of the Games and reaffirmed a week ago, triggered an outcry among heritage defenders and opponents of the elected socialist. “We are very happy that the rings have been associated with the Eiffel Tower for the duration of the Olympic Games,” the descendants of the famous engineer explained on Sunday, while reaffirming their opposition to this project.
“No prior thematic or historical link between the tower and the Games”
“As heirs of Gustave Eiffel, the members of the Adge […] may be led to oppose any alteration detrimental to respect for the work of their ancestor”, they assure, explaining that they have consulted a law firm. However, according to them, “the hanging of the Olympic rings […] induces a substantial modification both on the visual aspect but also on the symbolic aspect of the Eiffel Tower. “Colorful, of a large size, placed in the axis of privileged access to the tower, creating a strong imbalance, the rings substantially modify the very pure forms of the monument”, they estimate.
The presence of the rings on the tower beyond the duration of the Games further contradicts, according to them, “the neutrality and the meaning acquired over the years by the Eiffel Tower, which has become the symbol of the city of Paris and even of the whole of France throughout the world”, they plead, adding that there is no “no prior thematic or historical link between the tower and the Games”. Saying they are available to the mayor to discuss, they in turn propose that Paris, “after transmitting the Olympic flame to the city of Los Angeles […]can symbolically transmit the Olympic rings to Los Angeles, by the end of 2024, which marks the end of the Olympic year.
A request from the mayor of Paris for which the resigning Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, also her rival during the last municipal election in the capital, stressed that the State has its say. “The Eiffel Tower is a protected monument, the work of an immense engineer and creator. Respect for its architectural gesture and its work requires, before making any substantial modification, a work authorization and an impact assessment, in accordance with the heritage code. she pointed out on Twitter.
In response, the mayor’s entourage explained to Checknews what “the City of Paris wishes to take all the time necessary to ensure this sustainability in the best conditions […] This is why the city’s services are currently working to resolve all legal and technical issues in connection with state services, the IOC and the Eiffel Tower.
