For sports enthusiasts worldwide, Paris was the focal point of excitement in 2024. The 33rd Olympic Games, eagerly awaited, lived up to the hype and delivered unforgettable moments. While the Opening Ceremony sparked widespread controversy, the athletes rose to the occasion and delivered stellar performances, captivating audiences across the globe. However, troubling after-effects have since emerged, casting a shadow over the event and leaving many with a bittersweet perspective on what was otherwise a spectacular Olympics.

Organizing a tournament that meets Olympic standards is no small feat. Hosts must plan meticulously for years, ensuring every detail is handled seamlessly—from the arrival and accommodation of athletes to managing a demanding schedule. The effort required is monumental, driven by the hope of creating an event that inspires future generations. However, recent actions by the Olympic Committee seem to contradict this vision, casting doubt on their commitment to the values the Games are meant to uphold.

Fans clamor over the Olympics’ harsh move

A post on the Subreddit group r/Olympics has shared how the IOC has sought to erase its Paris footprint from the cyber world. “The IOC, apparently in association with Meta, deleted this morning the official @paris2024 Instagram account,” reads the caption of Redditor Sanmibor’s post. It’s not difficult to note the astonishment in the tone of the social media update, considering how incredibly massive the entire 2024 Olympics project was for everyone. However, the removal of the Paris Games account didn’t mean the followers were left hanging.

Instead, the post states, “All of their followers were automatically transferred to the @Olympics account.” And yet, the loss that was handed to the sports fans was immense, exclaims the post. “We just lost a valuable archive of contents, that the people of Paris 2024 took years of work to build,” reads the post’s aching words further. The same Reddit post also shared an image of a LinkedIn update by Julien Fritsch, the social media expert who handled Paris 2024’s online account.

“They deleted our work, our memories. The visible work of 3500 people. We were thinking of leaving a trace, a legacy,” Fritsch wailed. He also mentioned that this would also hamper the France 2030 agenda: a major investment plan that’s focused on transforming the French economy. Considering all the hard work that the city and its people put in ahead of the Olympics to make everything come together perfectly, it’s natural that the Olympic Committee’s move would result in a few frowns everywhere.

Stellar efforts, all gone in a stroke of a hand

One of the most ambitious initiatives undertaken by the Paris Olympics organizers was the Seine River clean-up project. For the first time in the tournament’s history, the opening ceremony took place on open waters, with the iconic river providing a stunning backdrop to welcome the athletes and set the tone for the historic event. Moreover, open-water swimming competitions were also held in the Seine, making the Games’ return to Paris after 100 years a truly seminal moment in sports history. The $1.4 billion project was massive, and it paid off spectacularly.

Moreover, the Parisian people also felt proud of what they managed to pull off for the Olympics. So much so, that when the post-event celebrations were held thousands of the city’s residents flocked the streets to bid the Olympics one last goodbye on a high note. With these in mind, it’s easy to understand why the deletion of the Paris 2024 account is making fans grimace. Are you also among these heartbroken fans? Tell us your feelings in the comments!