The mascot Phryge has established himself as the undisputed star of Paris 2024 merchandise, with nearly 3 million plush toys manufactured, placed on the market and largely sold. The public has also been passionate about the works designed for the Paris Games.
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The omnipresent red plush toy in the shape of a Phrygian cap with big eyes – with or without a prosthesis – is offered to each Paralympic medalist. It also makes a splash during the events, is a hit on social networks and in the aisles of authorized retailers, and even completely covered the taxi driven by para-swimmer Théo Curin during the opening ceremony of the Paralympics.
The mascot mocked during its presentation
The manufacturer Doudou et Compagnie, one of the two companies holding the official license, has already sold 1,430,000 mascots to its distributors. Everyone loves it, it’s really the symbol of the Games and their success. ” says Sandra Callahan, general manager of Gipsy Toys, the other official manufacturer. We committed to Paris 2024 to produce one million pieces. Today, we have largely exceeded this figure since we are at a little over 1.5 million pieces launched into production. “, she explains. The two suppliers even report stock shortages on key rings or certain models of Paralympic mascots.
However, the mascot’s aesthetics had been mocked during its presentation, particularly on social networks and by certain media. Even before the end of the Paralympics on Sunday, September 8, some players are already congratulating themselves on the success of Olympic-related products on their shelves.
Also read2024 Paralympic Games schedule and calendar
Aside from the derivative products, the public was fascinated by works designed for the Paris Games and exhibited in the capital, such as the Olympic cauldron and the mechanical horse seen during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
In front of Paris City Hall, visitors line up to see “Zeus,” the mechanical horse, exhibited in the inner courtyard with his rider’s outfit until September 8. To allow visitors to come and admire him, Paris City Hall put 35,000 tickets online, which sold out in six hours according to Pierre Rabadan, Deputy for Sports in the French capital.
Success of the Olympic cauldron
In the Tuileries Garden, close access to the olympic basinreserved for ticket holders – 10,000 tickets are offered daily –, is also fully booked until the end of the Paralympic Games, for a total of 270,000 tickets granted over the two periods of the Games. These figures do not take into account the crowds that gather every evening around the illuminated balloon, created by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, to watch it rise into the sky.
Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, wants to keep the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower, which is owned by the city, as well as the Agitos on the Champs-Elysées, until 2028. She has also expressed her wish to keep the cauldron after the Games, but the final decision rests with the State, which owns the Tuileries Gardens. The future of the horse Zeus is still under discussion, particularly with the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, which financed its design.