“Within the teams, we reflected on this very special moment that is the victory ceremony, culminating in the presentation of medals to the athletes,” explains Joachim Roncin, design director of Paris 2024. We all remember striking images of athletes on podiums, we also wanted to circulate them around the world. »
The creative teams also endeavored to make the link with the medals, created with a piece of the Eiffel Tower, the emblematic monument of Paris. “We looked at its location, the image that appeared when we looked at it,” continues Joachim Roncin. It is vertical, we wanted it horizontal, so we had to find a subtlety. »
The biggest podium? The one of football
The metal framework and curves of the Debilly footbridge thus blend with the structure of the Eiffel Tower, to provide relief at the front of the podium. The Games include individual and team events, the podium is enlarged thanks to modules (it measures between 3.60 m and 33 m, the largest podium being that of football) which fit together, while retaining design. The Eiffel Tower is on the first step, the arches on the other two. To avoid clashing with the purple, green and gold tones of the Art Deco “look” of the Games, Paris 2024 chose neutral colors for its podium: the facade, in bas-relief, is therefore white, the top gray , in reference to the zinc on the roofs of Paris.
The podium of the Paralympic Games, here in front of the Eiffel Tower. Paris 2024
For the creation of the 68 podiums which will be deployed on the Olympic and Paralympic sites, P&G, partner of the Games and in particular of the podium, called on French companies. “The podium is the ultimate symbol of performance and we, who support athletes, wanted to be associated with it,” explains Béatrice Dupuy, president and general manager of Procter & Gamble for France. We have two factories in France, which export to 60 countries, so we were extremely mobilized to promote a podium 100% made in France, from materials, to manufacturing and assembly. It is a sustainable approach that we are proud to have supported. »
43 tonnes of recycled plastic were used to make the plates, covering the wooden formwork. And it is the small company from the social and solidarity economy, Le Pavé, which was responsible for transforming the original waste, particularly from shampoo bottles and colored caps. The beautiful industrial history therefore continues for the company based in Aubervilliers, in Seine-Saint-Denis, which has already produced plates used to manufacture the seats of the Olympic aquatic center and furniture for the athletes’ village.
“An incredible showcase that shows our know-how”
“In 2018, when we created the company, we had this somewhat naive idea of becoming the official materials of the Olympic Games,” remembers Jim Pasquet, co-founder of Pavé. This podium constitutes a beautiful icing on the cake, very visible throughout the world. It’s an incredible showcase that shows our industrial and circular know-how. »
Le Pavé, which is continuing its development in particular thanks to the Olympics, has transformed plastic into flakes, to then create white and gray panels which will cover the 68 100% recycled podiums. The Global Concept company, already associated with Le Pavé to manufacture the seats for the aquatic center, notably screen printed, engraved the podiums and created an anti-slip. Finally, it was the Giffard establishments, specialized in carpentry and based near Orly airport, which took care of the last stage. The plywood support structure was dressed and the modules assembled, making it possible to create 100% French and 100% recycled podiums.
