Mon Sep 09 15:06:59 UTC 2024: ## Eiffel Tower Family Fights to Remove Olympic Rings After Paris Games

**Paris, France:** The family of Gustave Eiffel, the engineer who designed the iconic Eiffel Tower, has declared their opposition to the plan to permanently display the Olympic rings on the structure. The rings, installed for the 2024 Paris Summer Games, were slated to remain until at least 2028, according to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

The AGDE, a family association representing approximately 70 descendants of Gustave Eiffel, argues that the rings are “colorful, large in size, placed on the main avenue of approach to the tower [and] create a strong imbalance” in the tower’s aesthetic. They believe the rings “substantially modify the very pure forms of the monument” and contradict the Eiffel Tower’s “neutrality and meaning acquired over the years.”

The family has consulted lawyers about blocking the plan, suggesting the rings only remain in place until the end of 2024, marking the end of the Olympic year. They contend that the Eiffel Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world’s most visited monument, should not be permanently associated with an external organization, regardless of its prestige.

Public opinion has also been vocal against the proposal, adding pressure to the Paris City Council to reconsider the decision. The ongoing debate highlights the sensitivity surrounding the iconic landmark, which has become a symbol not only of Paris, but of France itself.

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