Rusty Eiffel Tower needs full repairs, gets US$63 million paint job instead
- The world-famous landmark is in a poor state, and work has been delayed because of the pandemic, a French magazine says, citing confidential reports
- The tower is instead being repainted for the 20th time ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris
The Eiffel Tower is riddled with rust and in need of full repairs, but instead it is being given a cosmetic €60 million (US$62.6 million) paint job ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, according to confidential reports cited by French magazine Marianne.
The wrought-iron 324-metre (1,063-f00t) high tower, built by Gustave Eiffel in the late 19th century, is among the most visited tourist sites in the world, welcoming about 6 million visitors each year.
However confidential reports by experts cited by Marianne suggest the monument is in a poor state and riddled with rust.
“It is simple, if Gustave Eiffel visited the place he would have a heart attack,” one unnamed manager at the tower told Marianne.
The company that oversees the tower, Societe d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), could not be immediately reached for comment.
The tower is currently undergoing a repaint costing €60 million in preparation of the 2024 Olympics, the 20th time the tower has been repainted.
