Paris 2024 Olympics: will the Olympic cauldron remain in the capital after the Games?

Will the Olympic cauldron, housed under an impressive hot-air balloon, remain in Paris after the Olympic Games? At least, that's the wish of Mathieu Lehanneur, its designer, who is campaigning for it to remain after the Paris Olympics.

On July 26, following a sublime opening ceremony, the Olympic cauldron was lit by two of France's greatest athletes: Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner. Before the astonished eyes of millions of television viewers, the Olympic cauldron took to the sky, lighting up the Paris skyline.

For this Olympic cauldron is like no other. To make its mark, the organizers of the Paris Games called on the talented French designer Mathieu Lehanneur. The designer came up with a cauldron in the shape of a 7-metre-diameter flame ring, attached to an impressive balloon. Taking the form of a hot-air balloon, this Olympic cauldron pays homage to the famous Montgolfier brothers, the French inventors of the hot-air balloon.

Since July 27, curious visitors have been able to get up close to this Olympic cauldron and impressive hot-air balloon, free of charge. Installed at the central fountain in the Jardin des Tuileries, it can be seen during the day, from 11am to 7pm, until the end of the Paris Olympics. To get close to it, however, you'll need to reserve a slot on the dedicated website here. Slots are still available at the time of writing. It's also possible to admire it from a little further away every evening, and see it float in the Paris skies, more than 60 meters above the ground, from sunset until 2:00 am.

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So, will this Olympic cauldron and monumental balloon remain in the Tuileries after the Games and become a permanent installation in Paris? No official announcement has yet been made. But it's certainly the wish of its designer Mathieu Lehanneur. " I think it's obvious that there should be a ball here," he told RMC Sports on Saturday. " Let's launch an appeal, we can start a petition (...) and if we're followed, we'll go and see the Louvre, or the Town Hall, or the State to propose our idea ", he continued.

For her part, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made no secret of her amazement at the Olympic cauldron. " The cauldron is an extraordinary object, and the location in which it is situated is magnificent," she confided on France Bleu this Monday morning. " The mayor's office is currently working on technical solutions, such as keeping the cauldron in place despite the year-round weather conditions in Paris ", said Pierre Rabadan, deputy mayor in charge of sports.

It should be noted, however, that if the cauldron remains on display in Paris after the Games, it will not be lit: indeed, the flame cannot remain in Paris once the Games are over. At the end of the Closing Ceremony, the flame will be transmitted to Los Angeles, and the Paris flame will be extinguished, as tradition dictates. It is unlikely that the IOC will depart from these rules, and allow the cauldron to remain "ablaze" after the end of the event.

So, will this sublime Olympic cauldron become a permanent installation and remain in Paris after the Games? Many Parisians certainly hope so!