Man behind recycled plastic seats in Olympic venues plots ways to stop the trash

Marius Hamelot recalls his fine April morning at the inauguration of the Olympic Aquatics Centre chatting to President Emmanuel Macron as well as a phalanx of politicians and Paris Olympics officials with a mixture of pride, astonishment and self-deprecation.

The 29-year-old was part of the stellar delegation as boss of Le Pavé – the company that produced the 11,000 recycled plastic seats that will be used during the competitions at the venue in Saint Denis, as well as a few kilometres to the south at the La Chapelle Arena.

"I knew that I would have to make a presentation to the president so that was really great to get the opportunity. Something you do once in a lifetime," he beams.

"But afterwards ... walking behind the president ... I didn't know that I would have to stay with everyone.

"It was surprising for me to be there. But I was grateful to see that the message that what we've been trying to put across has been heard and acknowledged."

Countdown

As Macron contemplates a whirl of launches during the 100-day countdown to the start of the Olympic Games, Hamelot can look back and smile wryly at his post-presentation gawkiness.

His own 100-day countdown to the launch of the Olympic extravaganza on 26 July offers, he says, a period of reflection and projection.

Just six years out of the Versailles School of Architecture, the rising son of architects from Argentré-du-Plessis in Brittany will, in just over three months, see the fruits of his labours beamed into millions of homes around the planet.

"But I feel like there is so much to do still."

Hamelot says Le Pavé will benefit too.

Giving back

Read more on RFI English

Read also:
Paris Olympic organisers trumpet their readiness as 100-day countdown looms
Macron calls for ‘Olympic truce’, presents alternatives for opening ceremony
Olympic flame begins long journey from Greek birthplace to Paris