The Monocle Minute

Hosting large-scale events such as the Olympics, for which the opening ceremony takes place tomorrow, is an opportunity that might only happen once in a lifetime, even for big cities. Yet it often feels as though city leaders, who are already faced with the behemoth task of logistical co-ordination, must also persuade residents to embrace these events. The usual grievances mount up, which include the inevitable influx of tourists, heightened security risks and use of taxpayer funds to build venues. It’s easy to focus only on the negative aspects of such ambitious ventures. But residents should see them as an opportunity to embrace a better quality of life in the future.

The long-term effects of a mega-event are not always easy to measure. This is because the outcome is more of a feeling than a data-driven set of statistics. It boosts a city’s sense of purpose because it spurs on that metropolis to be the best it can be. The 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle saw the construction of the Eiffel Tower, which became an iron icon of economic prosperity following a period of financial malaise. Then the Grand Palais and the ornate Alexandre III bridge were built for the city’s Universal Exposition in 1900. These landmarks signify more than France’s flair for designing highly decorative buildings; they showed the French capital’s status as a European superpower, politically and culturally. This year more than €1bn was put aside to clean up the Seine for swimming (a task that many politicians have previously found impossible to achieve). In 2001, Athens built the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in just 51 months. The project had been talked about for several years but leaders used the justification of hosting the 2004 Olympic Games to make the investment.

We need to think of these events as nation and city branding – as a platform to enhance the way a place is perceived. These are exercises that can boost an economy, tourism and confidence for many years after. Paris should seize the potential for change when the Games come to town this Friday.

Claudia Jacob is a Monocle writer. Tune in to Monocle Radio, which will begin broadcasting live from Paris this Sunday, for all the latest updates and developments. For more opinion, analysis and insight, subscribe to Monocle today.

Phoenix is no stranger to extreme heat. Last year, Arizona’s capital set a record of 31 consecutive days above 43C; a temperature threshold that has already been crossed 18 times this month. Scorching summer days can make strolling downtown feel unappealing, which runs contrary to mayor Kate Gallego’s goals of promoting walkability in the famously sprawling city. To help beat the heat, the city is installing chilled-water stations at a cost of $30,000 (€27,650) each.

“We are leading with resident feedback and data to expand access to chilled drinking water across our desert city,” Michael Hammett, director of the Phoenix Office of Innovation, tells The Monocle Minute. The simple but attractive design includes two drinking fountains and a water-bottle refill station. Since debuting, the stations have dispensed more than 3,600 litres of water. For thirsty Phoenicians, the fountains are a desert mirage come true.

The French Alps have been provisionally chosen to host the 2030 Winter Olympic Games – and the region was the only bidder. An agreement was reached just days before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, after Emmanuel Macron told the International Olympics Committee (IOC) that he would ask the country’s incoming prime minister to offer a financial guarantee for the Games and introduce a new Olympic law. It is a shaky promise, given France’s ongoing struggle to form a new government.

But it also highlights the IOC’s problems with securing hosts for future Winter Olympic Games due to climate change. Global warming is reducing the number of countries that can stage the event. “This will probably be the last chance for France to host the Winter Olympics, as the Alps heat up and ski resorts close down,” Simon Kuper, a Paris-based journalist, tells The Monocle Minute. “The idea that these will be their valedictory games is sad.” Due to the effects of climate change, the IOC has also announced that only 10 countries will be able to host the Winter Olympics after Salt Lake City in 2034.

Emil Pacha Valencia is the editor in chief of Tempura, an independent French publication dedicated to exploring Japan’s cultural trends. Here, he tells us about the idea behind the magazine, as well as the strong cultural bonds between Japanese and French readers.

How was ‘Tempura’ conceived?
We started the magazine to shine a light on the strong bond between France and Japan. Our generation grew up reading manga and watching anime on TV, which sparked a fanatic interest in the genre. But there was no media dedicated to the wider culture, so we found that there was a gap there. We wanted to talk about Japan in a way that hadn’t been done before, without focusing on manga, anime or pop culture. Tempura explores topics such as feminism and gender identity, as well as other social issues, to understand what’s happening in the country now.

The visual identity of the magazine seems as important as the written content. Why did you make this decision?
Our co-founder and art director, Clémence Fabre, wanted to create a magazine that tackled serious issues but was also pleasant to read. That is still our challenge. The visual layout reflects the powerful written content; the two are in communication with each other. This is how Tempura stands out from other publications. It’s not just a coffee-table magazine; it also has powerful content.

What’s in store for the future of the magazine?
There will be many changes to the brand over the next few months. We are working on an English version as we have noticed that there is a lack of publications about Japanese culture in countries such as the US and the UK. There aren’t many magazines like Tempura around the world. But the interest is there. Japanese people often tell us that we should create a version for natives to enjoy. We want to reach a much broader readership.

For our full interview with Emil Pacha Valencia, tune in to the latest episode of ‘The Stack’ on Monocle Radio.

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