The rings, symbols of the Paris 2024 Games, recycled in Differdange to build the future headquarters of ArcelorMittal
ArcelorMittal Long Products Luxembourg in Differdange will melt down the Olympic Rings and transform them into beams for the ArcelorMittal world headquarters under construction in Kirchberg.
On June 7, 2024, the whole world marveled alongside Parisians following the discovery of the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower. One symbol adorning another, an obvious choice for the Paris 2024 Games, which enjoyed symbols throughout the event. Paris 2024 is also the first Games to proudly express its commitment to an organization with a low environmental impact. Bringing sport to emblematic places in Paris, but doing it responsibly! One of the strongest commitments of these Games was to reduce their carbon impact. The symbols of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games made by ArcelorMittal were produced in a decarbonized way, in particular the 2,000 Olympic and Paralympic relay torches, the Agitos on the Arc-de-Triomphe and the Rings, all three of which were made from 100% recycled steel. After the Games, some are kept as souvenirs, like the torches, and others, like the rings, are given a new life.
From recycled steel rings to raw material for recycled steel, closing the loop
Almost three months after having wonderfully accompanied Celine Dion for her cover of the hymne à l’amour, it was time to remove the rings from their prestigious support.
Made of recycled steel, their carbon footprint was already low compared to traditional production. But the common wish of Paris 2024 and ArcelorMittal was to reduce this footprint to the strict minimum. The strength of steel is that it is infinitely and 100% recyclable, offering a very small carbon footprint. The rings then started their journey to Luxembourg to be recycled.
The ArcelorMittal Long Products Luxembourg site based in Differdange is composed of an electric steelworks and a rolling mill, the Grey Mill. The electric steelworks’ main raw material is scrap metal and its electricity is supplied by decarbonized energies. Grey Mill is known for supplying the biggest beams in the world, used in mega-constructions such as the Burj Khalifa and the One World Trade Center.
Once they arrive in Differdange, the rings are cut so that they can be put in a laddle and melted in an electric furnace. Then transformed into semi-finished products for the Grey Mill, the old rings are then rolled in order to gradually take their final shape : beams for the future ArcelorMittal headquarters.
ArcelorMittal’s headquarters under construction in Kirchberg, Luxembourg City, shares the same ambitions as Paris 2024: prove that it is possible to minimize one’s carbon footprint while maintaining exemplary performance.
Learn more about the partnership between ArcelorMittal and Paris 2024.