President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday that the eye-catching helium balloon featured in Paris’ 2024 flame-free Olympic celebration will make a comeback each summer until the next Games in Los Angeles in 2028. Known for its dramatic ascents high above the Tuileries gardens, the tethered balloon served as a modern tribute to France’s pioneering role in balloon travel.
Macron confirmed that the attraction will reappear each year between June 21—during a nationally beloved music festival—and September 14, a date he hopes will become associated with a brand-new sports festival. During the 2024 Olympics, the balloon rose into the sky nightly—weather conditions allowing—to provide a stunning luminous display, powered by LED lights and water vapor instead of flames. The spectacle tapped into France’s aviation heritage, drawing inspiration from the 18th-century Montgolfier brothers, who flew one of the earliest hot air balloons from the same gardens centuries ago.
After an extremely successful run at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, the balloon’s continued presence has thrilled both locals and officials. Mayor Anne Hidalgo, a strong supporter of the plan, shared her excitement on social media, calling the balloon’s return “wonderful news.” Meanwhile, the memory of judo champion Teddy Riner and sprinting legend Marie-José Pérec lighting the eco-friendly cauldron remains fresh in the minds of sports enthusiasts. Their symbolic gesture, involving plumes of illuminated mist rather than a traditional fire, highlighted France’s commitment to sustainable event practices.
In a year marked by challenging political and economic circumstances, the vibrant atmosphere of the 2024 Games offered a welcome boost for Parisians, who still recall the festive crowds, world-class performances, and feel-good spirit the Olympics and Paralympics brought to the city. With the promise of seeing the iconic balloon soaring overhead each summer until 2028, residents and visitors alike have yet another reason to look forward to warmer weather in the French capital.
