One year after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the legacy of the event continues to materialize with the reopening of the Élancourt Hill and the expansion of Parc Georges-Valbon. Both projects reflect the Games’ commitment to long-term social, economic and environmental development.
These initiatives are part of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympic Agenda, which seeks to make the Games more than a sporting celebration, making them a catalyst for lasting change in communities.
The transformation of the Hill of Élancourt
The Élancourt Hill, at 231 meters above sea level, is the highest natural point in the Paris region. For decades, this space remained inaccessible, having been a sandstone quarry, a landfill and finally rehabilitated in the 1980s. However, for the Paris 2024 Games, the hill was transformed into the venue for the mountain biking competitions.
In May 2025, the Élancourt Hill reopened to the public as a 52-hectare space that includes mountain biking trails, walking trails, a free access pumptrack, picnic areas and panoramic viewpoints. This new public space represents a significant improvement in the quality of life for residents of the Yvelines department, which has fewer urban parks compared to central Paris.
Parc Georges-Valbon: an expanding green lung
In the heart of Seine-Saint-Denis, Parc Georges-Valbon has also undergone a major transformation. This park, with more than 400 hectares, is one of the largest in Europe, but until now some of its areas were disconnected or underutilized. A 13-hectare site, known as the Terrain des Essences, formerly used as a military fuel depot, has been restored and integrated into the park.
The new section of the park includes natural habitats, trails and biodiversity zones, as well as improved accessibility thanks to new mobility connections. During the Games, Parc Georges-Valbon was one of the official fan zones, attracting thousands of people with concerts, community events and live broadcasts of the competitions.
First Games aligned with the Olympic Agenda
Paris 2024 was the first edition of the Olympic Games designed entirely under the principles of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020. This approach seeks to maximize the positive impact of the Games while minimizing their environmental footprint, reusing existing venues, promoting physical activity and planning for legacy from the earliest stages.
With 95 percent of the venues already existing or temporary, Paris 2024 was structured as a catalyst for long-term change. Strategic investment focused on Seine-Saint-Denis, one of France’s youngest and most diverse regions, historically underserved in terms of transportation, sports infrastructure and green spaces.
A visible legacy in local communities
One-third of the Olympic venues were located in Seine-Saint-Denis, including the new Aquatics Center, the Olympic Village and celebration areas. These facilities were designed to benefit the local community by improving access to housing, sports infrastructure and green spaces.
