Eco-Hype or Eco-Hope?

The Olympic Games claim to be exemplars of sustainability, aiming to inspire sustainable futures around the world. The organizers positioned Paris 2024 as the most sustainable Games ever, promising a 50% reduction in carbon emissions compared to prior editions. The issue of greenwashing—projecting a picture of environmental responsibility without taking significant action—becomes pertinent and pressing in this situation. Because of the Games’ enormous popularity, any sustainability narrative that is adopted has a worldwide audience and can either support or contradict public views of environmental responsibility. Therefore, it is necessary to consider if the Paris Olympics indeed signify a radical change in the way that these kinds of events are planned and carried out, or if they are just an example of a more advanced kind of greenwashing. In light of this, a crucial research question arises: Was Paris’ goal to create a new standard truly intended, or was it just excellent advertising covering up unpleasant facts? This study pursued its objective by conducting a two-round Delphi survey that included a diverse range of professional expertise from the field of sports and sponsorship, among others in order to enhance the multi-faceted examination of sustainability and public opinion. In addition to shedding light on the veracity of Paris 2024’s sustainability claims, the present study advances our knowledge of how environmental narratives are created, disseminated, and challenged in the era of the climate catastrophe and media spectacle.