In the spotlight during the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris throughout the summer, overnight on 26/27 September the Olympic rings ‘spectacular’ was successfully removed from the Eiffel Tower in a complex technical operation.

Designed to be used for summer 2024, the removal of the rings from the Eiffel Tower presented unique technical challenges for the ArcelorMittal team. The Paralympic Agitos was similarly removed from the Arc De Triomphe in the previous week.

During the Games, the Olympic Rings and Paralympic Agitos served as two of the most iconic symbols of Paris 2024, along with the Olympic and Paralympic torches, also made by ArcelorMittal, and the Olympic Cauldron which rose into the air each night from its location in the Jardin des Tuileries.

The Spectaculars and the torches were made from ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel, made entirely in France from scrap steel and with renewable energy. 

The removal of the Olympic Rings does not mean the end of their life, as they will be melted in one of ArcelorMittal’s Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) in Luxembourg and then remade into steel beams that will be used in ArcelorMittal’s new headquarters building in Luxembourg, currently under construction. This process underscores ArcelorMittal’s commitment to sustainability and circularity, breathing new life into these symbols of global unity and strength.

Aditya Mittal, CEO ArcelorMittal commented:

“Being an Official Partner of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supplier of the torches and Spectaculars gives ArcelorMittal an incredible opportunity to showcase the beauty, flexibility and potential of steel. ArcelorMittal is proud to be an official partner.”

Learn more about ArcelorMittal's official partnership with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games here.