The Eiffel Tower is riddled with rust and in need of a complete overhaul, but is instead simply being given a coat of paint ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, according to confidential reports cited by French magazine Marianne.
The 324-meter high iron tower, built by Gustave Eiffel in the late 19th century, is among the most visited tourist sites in the world, welcoming around six million visitors each year. However, confidential reports from experts cited by Marianne suggest that the monument is in a bad state and full of rust.
The Tower is currently undergoing a €60 million repainting in preparation for the 2024 Olympics, the 20th time the Tower has been repainted.
"About 30% of the tower was supposed to be stripped and then two new coats applied, but work delays caused by the COVID pandemic and the presence of lead in the old paint mean only 5% will be treated." Marianne said.
SETE is reluctant to close the tower for a long time because of the tourism revenue that will be lost, the media added.
Adapted from CNN
