The Games bring significant economic and social potential to the host city.
Paris 2024 is making the most of this potential by offering a platform to socially engaged enterprises. Économie Sociale et Solidaire 2024 (ESS 2024) is an online platform that aims to inform, support, recognise and promote businesses engaged in the social and solidarity economy by placing them at the heart of the organisation of the Games.
The OCOG and the Société de Livraison des Ouvrages Olympiques (Solideo) joined forces with Les Canaux and the Yunus Centre to develop ESS 2024 and contribute to the realisation of the first sustainable, inclusive and solidarity-based Olympic and Paralympic Games. Les Canaux is an association created the City of Paris which supports actors in the social and solidarity economy, while the Yunus Centre is a resource centre for social business in France.
ESS provides the following online services:
- Information: ESS 2024 provides an overview of strategic information on markets, employment opportunities and requirements of Game organisers for the benefit of businesses. It organises frequent meetings, newsletters, and other supports to increase the participation of the social and solidarity economy in the Games. This engagement also provides opportunities for two-way communication with Paris 2024, with feedback from Les Canaux informing the development of tender documents.
- Certification: Interested businesses have access to a site where they can register to be certified as a social and solidarity economy company and be made known to the organisers of the Games.
- Support: ESS 2024 is conducting a series of workshops and providing tools to support companies to find new ways of working. It connects social and solidarity economy actors and those in the traditional economy with a view to making the most of the opportunities provided by the Games.
- Inspire and promote: ESS 2024 promotes international good practices to create the conditions for their replication in France, as well as promoting examples of good practice in France that can be replicated internationally.
The implementation of ESS and other engagement efforts have helped lead to approximately 65% of contracts being awarded to SMEs and 15% to social enterprises.
Source: Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
