What will remain of the popular fervor of these two “enchanted” weeks?

An enchanted interlude. A moment of national harmony. An undeniable popular success. The terms and qualifiers used sometimes change depending on the privileged witnesses of these Olympic Games. But the idea remains more or less the same when they try to describe this crazy fortnight, in Paris as in the cities where events took place.

After months of political and social unrest, France has offered the world a new face. That of a country that shouts itself hoarse over That I love youwho masters the rules of 3×3 basketball and rugby 7s, who climbs on lampposts to see the flame and who embraces the Phryge, this gleaming mascot, which has become in the general irrationality a symbol of celebration and freedom. Now it remains to be seen when the return to harsh reality will take place. From this Monday, August 12, the first day without a test?

“We were waiting for this fervour. We were hoping for it. For an event like this to be successful, it needs good organisation, medals and the support of the population.” The recipe is delivered by Jean-François Lamour, with his double cap as former Olympic champion and Minister of Sports. He praises the work accomplished in two weeks after two election campaigns. “Three weeks ago, we were tearing each other apart. Now, we are proud of France, united behind the flag.”supports Nicole Abar, former international footballer of the 1960s and president of the association Liberté aux joueuses. In a few hours, on July 26, the opening ceremony, led by Thomas Jolly despite the raging elements, and concluded in apotheosis by Céline Dion, silenced (almost) the critics and the grumblers.

The rest of the fortnight was going to be of the same ilk. Transports are holding up, like the French stars. A key element, continues Jean-François Lamour: “If it had been a resounding failure for the Blues, you would not have felt the same fervor”supports the one who whispered in the president’s ear during the 1998 World Cup. Even The soulless hangars of the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles were transformed into cauldrons under the impetus of the Lebrun brothers, while beach volleyball under the Eiffel Tower or fencing at the Grand Palais were given picture-postcard settings.

The bar has been set high. But have all audiences benefited? “Even if the popular categories were not in the stands, they were still there”wants to believe the former President of the Republic François Hollande, architect of the Parisian candidacy during his mandate. The Olympic audiences throughout the fortnight remind us of this. “There were six million viewers at 10 o’clock for Félix Lebrun’s medal!” marvels Gilles Erb, president of the French Table Tennis Federation. “For ping-pong!” The French have even learned that they have to say “ping” now.

Inevitably, a comparison arises between the excitement surrounding Paris 2024 and that which accompanied Aimé Jacquet’s gang. “France 98 was even stronger, in terms of euphoria. No one paraded on the Champs-Elysées to celebrate the titles of Léon Marchand or Teddy Riner”, assures Julien, one of the (many) French supporters to point out this difference. Culturally, it is not in the Olympic customs and traditions, even if a parade is planned for September 14 with all the athletes. And even if the Club France had every evening the appearance of the most beautiful avenue in the world on July 12, 1998.

“This public who had no place but who sought to support the French athletes from near or far” has nevertheless struck François Hollande. “There was exactly the same fervor, this desire to share in 1998”supports Jean-François Lamour, sitting just above Jacques Chirac on the evening of France-Brazil. A broader enthusiasm, which affects more people, qualifies sociologist Béatrice Barbusse: “Different sports and sensibilities, more nations… Without forgetting that there are also women at the Olympics.”

An opinion shared by Stéphane Diagana, 400m hurdles world champion in 1997 and athletics consultant for France Télévisions. “These Olympics are a UFO that has arrived in France. Never seen before. I think it’s stronger than 98”he assures. “The fans also discovered another relationship with the opponent and with sports, with a very good-natured side.” In fact, no acts of hooliganism were recorded during the fortnight, unlike what happened at the 98 World Cup or Euro 2016 in France.

Take Limoges and its image of a sleepy town. “There was no jubilation in the street, it was more like everyone at homeillustrates Sylvie Rozette, deputy mayor of the city. But itThis fervour was there. It is expressed differently, around a country more than a team, unlike the World Cup.” Another story in Châteauroux, 43,000 souls, which hosted the shooting events. “Usually, we feel like we’re off the radarnotes Gil Avérous, the mayor of Châteauroux. These Games proved that things could happen in medium-sized cities. The atmosphere at the shooting range was just as good as the Parisian venues!” A syllable further on, Châteaudun also felt like it was taking part in the adventure. “Since the passing of the flame, we have been immersed in this madness”Mayor Fabien Verdier is moved. The three months of circus touring France have paid off. “Something happened.”

So there will be a before and after. “These images of a Paris, a heritage city, once again alive, during the opening ceremony or during the sports competitions, do good to the French. Paris is still standing, vibrant. It is still the laboratory of an ‘us’, enriched by the world present here, and enriching the world”exclaims Damien Gabriac, one of the authors of the opening ceremony. Images that will remain, Anne Hidalgo wants to believe.

“This is not an enchanted parenthesis, it is the result of ten years of work, with a legacy for the next 20 years.”

Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris

to franceinfo

A legacy and promises, including the swimmability of the Seine waters, the hobby horse of politicians ready to make any splash in front of the world. To date, however, there is still no proof that Parisians will be able to splash around in it in the summer of 2025, as promised. In the longer term, the many open house operations and other initiations for children to Olympic sports will perhaps give rise to vocations, hopes Mélina Robert-Michon, pOpening ceremony flag bearer: “I hope it changed the summer of many kids, and that, one thing leading to another, it will change their lives!”

It remains to be seen when the aftermath will come. “It felt good to no longer have a voice, to sing and smile with people we don’t know. But after the Games, there will be a big void and the issues facing society will still be the same.”prophesies sociologist Béatrice Barbusse. François Hollande adds: “There will surely be a boost in confidence. The rulers will benefit from it, for a while. Because it only lasts for a while.”

The political and social context is even less conducive to this.Sociologist Patrick Mignon wonders how the government will try to ride this wave, beyond the September 14 parade. “We’re going to get into the hard stuff quickly. The emotions of the Olympics are going to fade little by little. There has been a spread of the feeling of national pride. But in the long term, no, we have to be realistic.” The absence of a government, the question of the budget, purchasing power, immigration or insecurity should quickly take over again, according to him.

For the tourist too, the aftermath could begin very quickly. “There, the foreigners were pleasantly surprised by the French, but the Parisians had left. It is during the paras that we will see what is really going on, if the spirit of the Games has really changed something.”says Nicolas, a volunteer.

A priori, no one will visit Paris to take pictures of the remains of the Olympic sites. They do not exist or almost. The promise of Paris 2024, with the minimum of infrastructure built for the occasion, will not transform the landscape in a lasting way. Except in Seine-Saint-Denis, the president of the department, Stéphane Troussel, wants to believe.

“In ten years, when a tourist comes to see the traces left by the Olympic Games, he will not go under the Eiffel Tower or to the Champ de Mars, because everything will have been dismantled.”

Stéphane Troussel, President of the Seine-Saint-Denis Departmental Council

to franceinfo

And to continue: “He will go to the Stade de France, to the Olympic swimming pool, to the athletes’ or media village…”

Otherwise, the memories may lie dormant in a closet. Mocked for two years, the Phryges, mascots of the event, experienced a surprising comeback during the competition. “It’s a product that will stay, of heritage, a symbol that has marked the world”assures Alain Joly, president of the company Doudou et compagnie, one of the two manufacturers of derivative products, of course partisan. Perhaps Los Angeles 2028, Brisbane 2032 and the city that wins the jackpot in 2036 will take inspiration from the “French touch” that brightened up the fortnight. Among the ideas that were appreciated: the bell, the selfie on the podium, the three knocks before each event.

Finally, there are these details that will help some people fight the post-Olympic blues. Mathilde, A 33-year-old woman from Vendée has already changed her alarm clock music to the Olympic anthem: “My boyfriend thinks it’s ridiculous and corny. Not me: I loved these Games and I want them to continue.” Nathalie, who took her son to see fencing at the Grand Palais, has already planned to talk to him regularly about what “the pays lived in lSummer 2024. It’s now part of our history. He’s too young to understand. But I hope he’ll keep some images for later.” As Johnny Hallyday, the king of the fortnight’s soundtrack, has hammered home to us, we all now have something of the Paris Games in us.