Keeping the Olympic rings permanently on the Eiffel Tower is completely nonsensical

The mayor of Paris has announced plans to permanently leave the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower. With the Paralympic Games almost over, the city is still in the grip of sporting fever, with the Olympic rings proudly displayed on the Eiffel Tower and the Paralympic symbol – Agitos – emblazoned on the Arc de Triomphe. But even in the midst of the action, not everyone is convinced of the plan – and I have to agree.

Most critics emphasize the discrepancy between displaying the symbol of an outside organization on a structure so integral to the city of Paris. Marking the iconic building in this way is a huge statement that changes how the world sees the structure, and therefore how they see Paris. Even the family of Gustave Eiffel (the tower’s designer) has stated that the tower “is not intended as an advertising platform.”

But I think it’s wrong for another reason too: it completely contradicts the purpose of the Olympic brand.

To permanently attach the Olympic rings to the worldview of one city belies the Olympic spirit and purpose. Passing the torch to another host country, but attaching the Olympic rings so visibly and rigidly to another country’s most famous tourist attraction, belies the point that the Olympic Games belong to all countries.