Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has sparked a heated debate by announcing her intention to keep the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower even after the Summer Games conclude. Speaking to Ouest-France, she asserted that the decision ultimately rests with her and that she has secured approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). "So yes, they [the rings] will stay on the Eiffel Tower," Hidalgo confirmed.

The Olympic rings, which were installed before the Paris Olympics opened on July 26, were initially expected to be removed after the Paralympics' closing ceremony on September 8. The current rings, measuring 29 meters (95 feet) wide, 15 meters high, and weighing 30 tonnes, symbolize the five continents and are prominently displayed on the iconic Parisian landmark.

While some Parisians support Hidalgo’s plan, others, including heritage campaigners, have criticized it, arguing that the rings could "defile" the Eiffel Tower, a historic monument. Hidalgo also mentioned that the existing rings, with each measuring 9 meters in diameter, are too heavy and will eventually be replaced with a lighter version.

Hidalgo, a Socialist who has been Paris’s mayor since 2014, believes the rings contribute to the city’s festive spirit and reflect a renewed love for Paris during the Games. A young woman named Solène, speaking to the France Bleu website, praised the addition of the rings, saying they add color and beauty to the Eiffel Tower. However, others like Manon, a local resident, argued that the monument should be restored to its original state, suggesting it’s time to move on from the Olympic decorations.

Critics also questioned the mayor's unilateral decision, with social media user Christophe Robin suggesting that Parisians should have been consulted. He noted that the Eiffel Tower once featured a Citroën advertisement from 1925 to 1936.

The Eiffel Tower, constructed in 1889 for the World's Fair, initially faced heavy criticism from Parisian artists and intellectuals but has since become an enduring symbol of the "City of Light."

Hidalgo’s tenure as mayor has been marked by bold and sometimes contentious reforms, including pedestrianizing many city streets and banning rental electric scooters after a city referendum in which fewer than 8% of eligible voters participated. More recently, she successfully implemented a steep increase in parking fees for sports utility vehicles (SUVs), despite opposition from drivers' groups and critics who argued that the SUV classification was overly broad, affecting many family-size cars. France's Environment Minister Christophe Béchu described the measure as "punitive environmentalism."

In a separate controversy just before the Paris Olympics, Hidalgo and other officials took a swim in the Seine to demonstrate its safety, though triathlon events during the Games were delayed due to heavy rain, and Para-triathlon events were postponed due to poor water quality.