Photo by Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Design–The French capital is gearing up for the Games! We rounded up the key design features of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including a logo paying tribute to women in sport, striking pictograms, and a single and inclusive Olympic torch.

• RELATED STORIES: Find out more about the Paris 2024 Olympics on Archipanic.

The Logo

The Paris 2024 Olympics logo uniquely blends “iconic symbols deeply connected to sport, the Games, and France.” The golden hue, reminiscent of the first-prize medals, symbolises victory. The Olympic flame, a universal symbol of the Games, represents the Games’ unique energy that brings people together.

The design also reveals the shape of a woman’s head, a tribute to Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic. This element also celebrates female athletes in the past 100 years. Women could compete for the first time at the Paris Olympic Games 1924. This year, for the first time, as many women are taking part in the games as men.

The Olympic Torch

Mathieu Lehaneur has designed a symmetrical steel torch made from 100% recycled scrap steel. “We decided to create a single, inclusive design for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games with the aim of promoting equality,” the French designer told Archipanic. The champagne-hued Torch, manufactured by steel company ArcelorMittal, is 70 centimetres tall. Gentle curves and a rounded silhouette evoke peacefulness.

Matieu Lehanneur working on the design of the Olympic Torch – Photo by Felipe Ribon.

The design has a matte finish on the top half and a shiny, reflective finish on the bottom. The River Seine, a symbol of Paris, inspired the rippled texture at its centre. Lit with the Olympic flame, the Torch travelled across France in a relay of 10,000 torchbearers and is set to light a cauldron on 26 July 2024, signifying the start of the games.

The Medals

Every medal contains a piece of the Eiffel Tower, a powerful symbol of France. To celebrate the return of the Games to France, acclaimed LVMH jeweller Chaumet associated Paris’ iconic monument with the most prestigious object of the Games. Built between 1887 and 1889, the so-called Dame de Fer – French for Iron Lady – has since undergone numerous renovations. Certain metallic elements have been permanently removed and conserved in this process… Now, they can find new glory through unique and prestigious medals.

Photo by Cyril Masson.

The hexagonal iron part of the Eiffel Tower recalls the geometric shape of France itself. On the same side, embossed fine lines project outwards to symbolise the country’s radiance in the world and the athletes’ shining performances. The front of the Olympic medal features Athena Nike, the Greek Goddess of victory. The Paralympic medals feature a graphic representation of the Eiffel Tower from an upward perspective.

The Mascots

Olympic Phryge is the name of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic mascots. They resemble a Phrygian cap, a proud symbol of freedom throughout French history. The quirky creatures are decked out in blue, white, and red—the colours of France’s famed tricolour flag—with the logo emblazoned across their chests.

The Visual Identity

The Look of the Games is the visual identity that guides spectators, athletes, volunteers, and everyone else involved in the Olympics. It adorns all locations, from competition areas to the Athletes’ Village, as well as other sites across Paris. The design was inspired by Art Deco and the cobblestone, one of the most iconic materials found on roads in Paris and the rest of the country. It adapts to various geometric shapes, evoking various symbols of Paris and France, and also gives a new vibe to some of Paris’s most iconic architectures, including the Center Pompidou.

Official sport equipments

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Paris 2024 also presented a sample of the sports equipment and facilities used in competition and training during the Games, from the badminton shuttlecock to the sport climbing wall, the blind football ball, the handball goalposts, and the athletics track at the Stade de France. More than 1.2 million items of sports equipment will be produced, some of which will be branded with the Look of the Games.

The Pictograms

Over the years, pictograms—the symbols representing each Olympic or Paralympic discipline—have become a key element of the Games’ look and a unique form of expression for the host countries, embodying their style and culture. Each pictogram comprises three graphical elements: an axis of symmetry, a depiction of the ground, and a representation of the sport it illustrates.

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All photos: Courtesy of Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.