The Summer Olympics 2024 are just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to start cheering for your favorite teams and athletes. This year’s spectacular seventeen-day event, set against the vibrant backdrop of Paris, features 329 events across 32 sports. The Games are a celebration of luxury and sophistication, curated by some of France’s most talented indigenous artists and designers. The event also emphasizes sustainability and inclusivity, aligning with Paris’s vision of a modern and eco-friendly Olympics.
The Paris 2024 Olympics is a showcase not only of athletic excellence but also of extraordinary design, involving some of the most renowned designers in the industry. This article throws light on some of the key designers and their contributions to this illustrious event, highlighting their innovative approaches that make the Paris 2024 Olympics a unique convergence of sports and art.
Landmarks star in Ugo Gattoni’s “Utopian” Poster
French artist Ugo Gattoni has dedicated over 2,000 hours to creating a pair of intricate, hand-drawn posters for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These posters, which can function independently or merge into a single composition, feature approximately 40,000 characters and are a testament to Gattoni’s meticulous craftsmanship and artistic vision.
The posters balance an equal number of men and women in the foreground, symbolizing equality. Gattoni envisioned a city stadium open to the world, creating a series of micro-stories around familiar Parisian monuments. Iconic landmarks like the Trocadéro, which is being enhanced by British studio Gustafson Porter + Bowman with an amphitheater and green corridor for the event, and the Stade de France, the venue for athletics, Para athletics, and rugby sevens, are prominently featured. Even the coast of Teahupo’o in Tahiti, where the surfing events will be held, finds a place in his sprawling, imaginative cityscape.
Gattoni’s remarkable vision is further highlighted by the inclusion of other key elements of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The torch, designed by Mathieu Lehanneur, is depicted emerging from the water, symbolizing themes of equality and fluidity. A hand upholding the medal, designed by Philippe Starck, is another focal point, emphasizing the shared triumphs of the athletes. The Paris 2024 mascots, traditional Phrygian caps symbolizing freedom, and the gold-medal-shaped emblem are playfully integrated throughout the scene.
More recently, the Organising Committee has invited various artists to create sport-specific editions of the posters. However, Gattoni’s work stands out for its comprehensive and cohesive narrative, making it a defining artistic representation of the Paris 2024 Olympics
Torch and Cauldron design by Mathieu Lehanneur
Famous French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, who founded his studio in a bedroom in 2001, now presents the world with the most Iconic symbol of the Games, the Paris 2024 Olympic torch and cauldron.
In an interview with Forbes, he expressed his aspirations, saying “I want my pieces to be living beings, encapsulating 3 core elements of design: equality, peacefulness, and water.”
For Paris 2024, and for the first time in the history of the Olympics, an object is established in perfect symmetry to express a message of equality by electing the same number of male & female participants. Just like equal prominence is given to both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is the first time the torch embodies such duality and balance.
The notion of peacefulness is conveyed through its elegant curves and continuous lines, signifying peace despite the competitive nature of the Olympic Games. The flame represents transmission and harmony, suggesting a temporary pause in global conflicts by employing healthy sports.
Inspired by the Parisian life around the water, Mathieu said, “I wanted it to be simple like a hyphen and fluid like a flame.” Beyond the iconic monuments of Paris, the river Seine acts as the city’s lifeblood and a central stage for the opening ceremony to be held on the 26th of July. The torch mirrors the undulations and reflections of the water, finally materializing the liquid aesthetic with a recycled steel body & polished finish.
Emblematic Medals of the Olympics by Chaumet
An obvious choice for the Paris 2024 Athletes’ Commission was Chaumet, a noteworthy jewelry designer. He adopted the concept of associating the iconic monument of France and Paris—the Eiffel Tower —with the most famed possession of the Games: the medal. Each Olympic and Paralympic medal is set with a centerpiece of original iron from the “Dame de fer” (translating to the Iron Lady i.e. Eiffel Tower), preserved in the process of numerous renovations.
Globally renowned for its craftsmanship, the Jewel House of Chaumet created a veritable masterpiece, conceived around 3 ideas: the hexagon, radiance, and gem-setting.
The Hexagon symbolizes France itself. It is made to acknowledge a nation’s wholesome engagement in the history of the Games. Emblazoned with the emblem of the Paris 2024 Games, this piece of heritage seamlessly integrates into the prestigious medals.
Radiance is depicted by the outward projecting fine lines around the hexagonal core, embossed to evoke the glorious performances of the athletes at the Games, while personifying the brilliance of the host country at the global front.
One of the characteristic Guilloche motif patterns ‘Clous de Paris’, generally known as hobnail shape is used to rivet the centerpiece of glory to the radiating piece of achievement.
Even the medal ribbons are embellished with the intricate print of the Eiffel Tower’s latticework. The Olympic medal ribbons will feature a deep blue hue, while those of the Paralympic medals will be adorned with a rich crimson color.
The reverse side of the Olympic medal is conceptualized to unite the history of the ancient Olympic Games of Greece, the French origin of the modern Olympic Games & victorious emergence of Athena Nike in a single engraving. The back of the Paralympic medal shows a graphic upward perspective of the Eiffel Tower.
Advancing with the idea of equality, Chaumet incorporated Braille translation of ‘Paris’ & ‘2024’ on the lateral sectors as well as dashes on the edges to enable visually impaired Athletes to recognize the difference between the medals (I for gold, II for silver and III for bronze).
Hand-Woven Olympic Tapestry by Marjane Satrapi
Franco-Iranian comic book artist Marjane Satrapi has curated a colorful hand-woven tapestry for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Measuring over 9 meters by 3 meters, this impressive work of art underscores the theme of this year’s Olympics: ‘Equality’. The tapestry, which has been meticulously crafted by artisans from the renowned Mobilier National’s Manufacture des Gobelins, is prominently displayed at Place de la Concorde in Paris.
Employing the colors of the Olympic rings, two stylized silhouettes are created. A female and male player, poised in dynamic athletic motion with a flame ascending from their hands, set against a backdrop evocative of the strongest identity of Paris. Completing this exquisite work are two additional panels, one woven to demonstrate a javelin thrower, and the other showcasing a skateboarder alongside a breakdancer.
International Brands Design Unique Style Statements for Participating Teams
The fashion statements of competing teams have been garnering increasing attention in recent years. With the Paris Olympics looming, international brands & luxury designers are all geared up to present their associated teams, not on the runway; but rather at the field.
In anticipation of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, Prada has unveiled its official partnership with China’s Women’s National Football Team. As a result, the renowned brand will spearhead the design of the team’s attire for the foreseeable future.
In collaboration with French sportswear brand Le Coq Sportif, Pigalle founder Stéphane Ashpool is set to dress Team France’s Olympics 2024 uniforms for all 60 disciplines. French luxury brand Berluti is designing the formal outfits for the opening ceremonies of both the Games. The team will don custom-tailored tuxedos in a distinguished shade of blue, epitomizing the elegance synonymous with French sophistication.
Nike is the official designer for Team USA’s track and field athletes. Boasting USA’s national colors, the track and field kits featured a tank top, paired with shorts and snug sports bottoms for both men and women. The USA Olympic Golf Team’s uniform will be crafted by Swedish brand J. Lindeberg.
Japanese sportswear brand ASICS announced the renewal of its partnership with the Australian Olympic Team’s uniform in green and gold colors, complemented by an Indigenous print incorporated into each piece.
LV marks Tour & Sports guide for the City of Light
With its responsibility as the host city for the 2024 Olympics, Paris is evolving daily, embracing new sports and social practices while reinventing itself. In light of this transformation, the Louis Vuitton City Guide has decided to explore the diverse facets of Parisian sporting life by publishing a special edition of its City Guide Paris, entirely dedicated to sports activities in France’s capital.
This edition will serve as an excellent resource for first-time visitors, offering a curated list of activities, services, bars, dining, and accommodations that capture the essence of this culturally rich city. To complement this guide, Louis Vuitton is also releasing a supplementary book titled “Paris Sport,” providing an insider’s look at the athletic side of a city which is otherwise renowned for its fashion and cuisine.
References:
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