Can Paris 2024 buck the trend and turn an Olympic profit? 

Given the financial drain a home Olympics so often proves to be, it is no surprise that there has been a steady decline in the number of formal bids to host the Games over the past decade

Supporters for France wave flags during the women's pool C beach volleyball match between Germany and France at Eiffel Tower Stadium, at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Picture: AP Photo/Louise Delmotte

Many of the world’s best athletes are currently competing in the first Olympic Games to be held in Paris since 1924. The French capital is buoyant with excitement and its local businesses filled with paying tourists from all over the world. 

But are the Olympics really a good deal for host cities? The evidence suggests a resounding no. Host cities almost always blow their budget on the Games, having to invest heavily in specific sporting facilities, as well as accommodation and transportation for the influx of athletes and tourists.