The statement by Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, that she wants to keep the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower after the Summer Paralympic Games has started a heated debate.
"The decision is up to me, and I have the consent of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
"The circles, therefore, remain on the Eiffel Tower," she told the paper Ouest-France.
While some Parisians welcomed her decision, heritage preservation activists claim that it is a bad idea and that the move would "desecrate" the French capital's iconic monument.
- The mayor of Paris swam in the Seine cleared of feces, but there are doubters
- Controversial opening of the Olympic Games in Paris: "Mocking Christianity"
- Parisians say the city has never been dirtier
- Drunken American tourists slept in the Eiffel Tower
Five circles, 29 meters wide, 15 meters high, weighing 30 tons, were placed on the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris on July 26.
They were supposed to be taken down after the closing of the Paralympic Games on September 8.
But Hidalgo wants to keep the interlaced circles of blue, yellow, black, green and red on the tower, symbolizing the five continents.
The current rings are too heavy, and at some point they will be replaced by lighter ones, added the mayor of Paris.
Hidalgo, from the ranks of the Socialists, claims that "the French fell in love with Paris again during the Games" and that is why he "wants to keep that festive spirit".
Some Parisians, as well as tourists, supported this decision of the mayor.
"The Eiffel Tower is very beautiful, and the circles add color to it.
"It's very nice to see her in this edition," said a woman who introduced herself as Solen to the site French Blue.
But the Parisian Manon thinks that "it's a bad idea".
"It is a historical monument, why desecrate it with circles?
"It was good while the Olympic Games lasted, but they are over and we can move on.
"They should be removed so that the Eiffel Tower looks like before," he told the same site.
See where in Paris the two Eiffel Towers are from
Christophe Robin wrote on the X social network that Hidalgo should consult with the Parisians before continuing to implement his own ideas and plans.
In the announcement, he reminded that an advertisement for a Citroen car was displayed on the Eiffel Tower from 1925 to 1936.
This structure was built in 1889 for the needs of the World Exhibition.
The latticed wrought-iron tower was initially criticized by Parisian artists and intellectuals, but today it is seen as "the main symbol of the 'City of Light'".
Hidalgo has been mayor of Paris since 2014 and is known for bold and sometimes controversial reforms.
During her tenure, many streets, including those along the banks of the Seine, became pedestrianized.
Her proposal to ban the rental of electric scooters was voted at the city referendum, held in 2023.
However, less than eight percent of eligible voters voted.
Her idea won again in February when they The Parisians approved to increase the parking fee for sports utility vehicles (SUVs).
The move was criticized by drivers' groups and some opposition politicians, arguing that the SUV classification is misleading and that family cars will be most affected by this decision.
On the eve of the Olympic Games, Hidalgo swam in the Seine with other officials to prove that the water is safe.
However, during the Olympics, triathlon events were postponed several times due to poor water quality.
The same happened with the paratriathlon races, originally scheduled for September 1.
BBC is in Serbian from now on and on YouTube, follow us HERE.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube i Viber. If you have a topic proposal for us, contact us at bbcnasrpskom@bbc.co.uk
Bonus video:
