With Covid seemingly diminished for the time being, I was finally able to get on the ground in Paris. Long overdue! I spoke at a days-long transnational anti-Olympics summit, at an academic event with more standard scholarly presentations, and at something like a philosophical salon devoted to exploring the nuances of Paris 2024. Vive la France!

It was a very busy week.

With the anti-Olympics crowd, I spoke three times: about the declining sustainability of the Olympics over time, about the destruction of the natural environment in Sochi 2014, and about the ways in twhich the Sochi Olympics facilitated the introduction of new security and surveillance technologies. I don’t see myself as an activist, though I’m supportive of many of their aims here. Instead I see my role as providing data and analysis.

Because of the nature of my research, I happen to know how hosting mega-events can create and perpetuate negative outcomes. And I think it’s incumbent on all of us – activists, residents, academics, policymakers, and event owners alike – to work towards better outcomes. There is no difference between how I spoke in front of the anti-Olympics activists and how I’ve spoken in front of the International Olympic Committee.

Frankly, Paris is looking pretty good in comparison to Sochi, all things considered. But there’s always room for improvement, and it was enlightening to speak to those residents who are coming out worse because of the Olympics. I’ll have more to say on this later, formally. I learned a lot this week.