The Agitos, emblems of the Paralympic Games, displayed on the Arc de triomphe
To mark the Paralympic Games, the Arc de triomphe has been emblazoned with the symbol of the Games.
28 June 2024
THE AGITOS
While the Eiffel Tower has been displaying the 5 rings of the Olympic Games since 7 June, on the morning of 28 June it was the Arc de Triomphe's turn to take part in the festivities in Paris by displaying the Paralympic Games emblem on its eastern façade, facing the Champs-Élysées. Radiating all the way to the Place de la Concorde, this emblem will be visible during the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games. These structures, called Agitos, are installed at each edition of the Games in key locations in the host city, such as Tower Bridge in London in 2012. The emblem, which embodies the values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality, is perfectly aligned with the meaning conveyed by the monument.
After a week of night-time work, the steel structure is finally ready to be unveiled. It measures around 12 metres in length and 9 metres in height, and was created by ArcelorMittal France, an official partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In order not to damage the monument, the Agitos only rests on the Arc de Triomphe. On the terrace, the safety of visitors is maintained by the installation of a ramp and a temporary guardrail.
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FAQ
Work to install the structure took place from 20 to 28 June. The Agitos will be dismantled after the Paralympic Games, around 20 September.
Until now, the Arc de Triomphe has never displayed any symbols other than the French flag and the flag of the European Union. The Agitos are therefore the first emblems to be given this honour.
The ArcelorMittal group, which manufactured the Agitos, is one of the leaders in the decarbonisation of steel, thanks to their innovations in steel recycling andCO2 capture. Environmental commitment is therefore a driving value in their ResponsibleSteelTM certified company. These are the values that underpinned the Agitos project on the Arc de Triomphe.
When the Agitos were installed, no damage was done to the monument, since all the stresses are absorbed solely by contact. To ensure this protection for the duration of the installation, a maintenance inspection will be carried out twice a month to check that the structure is working properly.
No. Like the torch on the Olympic flame and the Spectaculars on the Eiffel Tower, the Agitos on the Arc de Triomphe were designed using 100% recycled French steel from ArcelorMittal factories.
It will be possible to visit the monument throughout its lifetime.
The installation of a temporary glazed railing will preserve the view, as the Agitos are located lower than the terrace.
Temporary ramps will be installed to replace the usual ramps. The other PRM accesses remain unchanged.
The Parvis and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will remain fully accessible for the duration of the installation.
Tribute ceremonies will take place throughout the installation.
Each Agitos weighs around 1.5 tonnes, and the support beam weighs almost 9 tonnes, for a total of around 13.5 tonnes.
The cost of creating and installing the Agitos is covered by the partnership between Paris 2024 and ArcelorMittal.