A year after the Olympic torch was extinguished, the spirit of Paris 2024 continues to blaze through the transformation of two formerly neglected sites into thriving public spaces.
Élancourt Hill and Parc Georges-Valbon — once restricted, forgotten, or underutilised — are now symbols of the Olympic Games’ enduring legacy and the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) commitment to long-term community impact.
The reopening of these two sites embodies the vision of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020: a pledge that the Games should be more than just a sporting spectacle, but a catalyst for sustainable social, economic and environmental change.
“What we’re seeing with the reopening of these two sites is that legacy isn’t theoretical,” said Marie Sallois, IOC Director for Sustainability and Legacy. “It’s physical, social and visible in the lives of people who now have access to places they didn’t before.”
Élancourt Hill: From Quarry to Community Landmark
Standing 231 metres above sea level, Élancourt Hill is the highest natural point in the Paris region. Once a sandstone quarry, later a landfill, and eventually a forgotten green space behind fences, the hill underwent a dramatic revival for the Olympic mountain bike competition in 2024.
Athletes raced across a rugged and technical course, while spectators were treated to sweeping views of the Paris skyline — including the Eiffel Tower — from purpose-built stands.
Now reopened to the public as a 52-hectare recreational area, Élancourt Hill features mountain bike trails, walking paths, a pumptrack, picnic zones and panoramic lookout points.
For Yvelines, a department with limited access to expansive parks, this transformation is a major boost to local quality of life.
Parc Georges-Valbon: Breathing Life into Seine-Saint-Denis
To the east, Parc Georges-Valbon in Seine-Saint-Denis has seen its own evolution. Known as one of Europe’s largest urban parks, parts of it had long remained inaccessible.
That changed with the rehabilitation of the 13-hectare Terrain des Essences, a former military fuel depot plagued by contamination.
Now cleaned and integrated into the wider park, the area has been turned into a biodiversity-rich landscape with walking paths and new mobility links, increasing access and encouraging nature conservation.
The park also played host to Olympic fan zones in 2024, drawing thousands to community events and live screenings.
Paris 2024: A New Standard for Legacy
Paris 2024 was the first Olympic Games fully aligned with the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020. With 95 per cent of venues reused or temporary, the Games were designed for sustainability and legacy from the outset.
Strategic investments focused on Seine-Saint-Denis — one of France’s youngest, most diverse and underserved departments — provided new housing, improved transport, and increased green space.
A third of the Olympic venues were located in the department, including the new Aquatics Centre and the Olympic Village, all planned to serve local communities beyond the Games.
“As the one-year anniversary of the Games approaches, the reopening of Élancourt Hill and Parc Georges-Valbon offers a powerful answer to a fundamental question: what do the Games leave behind?” said Sallois.
“In Paris, they leave behind greener and more connected communities — and we’re only just beginning to see that long-term impact take shape.”
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