To help Paris 2024 achieve its ambition of significantly reducing carbon emissions compared to previous Olympic Games, the Olympic rings Spectacular was made by ArcelorMittal from its XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel, which has a reduced carbon footprint compared with steel produced using primary production methods.  

The manufacturing process began at ArcelorMittal’s Châteauneuf and Le Creusot plants where scrap steel was melted and pre-rolled, effectively giving that steel another life. The steel was then rolled at ArcelorMittal Dunkerque. Steel products were then delivered to a workshop near Épinal in the Vosges region, where steel plates were cut, bent and welded and then painted according to the necessary colour specifications.

With a length of 29 metres and a height of 15 metres, the interlaced rings were raised to a height of 15 metres, testing the crane process that will be used to hoist the Spectacular into position on the Eiffel Tower. The sophisticated lighting scheme for the Spectacular, which enables them to appear in their five colours during the day and in bright white in the evening and at night, was then successfully tested.

ArcelorMittal is also responsible for the manufacture of the Olympic and Paralympic torches for Paris 2024, as well as the Torch Relay cauldron and the Heart of the Torch presented to each of the 11,000 Torch Bearers, and the yet-to-be-unveiled Paralympic Agitos Spectacular.

The Spectaculars are a doubly complex structural challenge given that they will appear against the background of Paris’ most famous landmarks. To secure the installation of the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower, and the Paralympic Agitos on another famous landmark, ArcelorMittal’s team of engineers carried out sophisticated static and dynamic analyses including numerous calculation and assembly simulations, to guarantee the resistance and safety of the landmarks while offering spectators an extraordinary visual experience.

Aditya Mittal, CEO, ArcelorMittal commented:

“I am delighted that ArcelorMittal has been able to support the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, which will be the most sustainable ever. We are playing our part in that by using low-carbon emissions steel for the Olympic and Paralympic torches, the Olympic rings Spectacular and the Paralympic Agitos Spectacular. The testing of the Olympic rings Spectacular has gone really well and so now we’re looking forward to showing the world what can be achieved with steel this summer.”