Plan to keep Olympic rings on Eiffel Tower sparks criticism

PARIS: Plans by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to keep the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower have been condemned by designer Gustave Eiffel's descendants and provoked a backlash from some Parisians.

The giant rings were a popular addition to the monument for visitors and tourists in Paris during the Jul 28 to Aug 11 Olympic Games in the French capital.

Hidalgo announced on Saturday (Aug 31) that she intended to take down the originals, which are too heavy to remain on the monument, and replace them with new rings.

"It does not seem appropriate to us that the Eiffel Tower, which has become the symbol of Paris and the whole of France since its construction 135 years ago, has the symbol of an outside organisation added to it in a permanent way, whatever its prestige," a statement from the Association of Gustave Eiffel's Descendants said.

The association's chairman Olivier Berthelot-Eiffel, a great-great-grandson of Eiffel, told AFP the family did not see any problem with the rings staying longer than the Paralympic Games which wrap up on Sep 8.

"But the Eiffel Tower should not become an advertising outpost. Anne Hidalgo should have said that she wanted to keep the Olympic rings, not that she had decided it, and then discussed the idea with the Paris council and relevant individuals," he explained.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati, a long-time critic and opponent of Hidalgo, also cast doubt over the idea, saying the Socialist city leader would need to follow procedures protecting historic buildings.

"The Eiffel Tower is a protected monument, the work of an immense engineer and designer," Dati said in a statement.

"Protections for its architectural merit and his work require authorisations and an impact study before any major modifications