To be honest, it took me a few days to fully recover from the whirlwind experience of the Olympic Games. Spending ten days in Paris during the 33rd 'Jeux Olympiques’ left me both exhausted and brimming with ideas and excitement about a city that has undergone a remarkable transformation. The changes in urban mobility and infrastructure allowed these Olympics to be truly integrated within the city itself, rather than confined to a single stadium. And with the first part now finished, the Paralympics in Paris will prove that Olympic Games can be inclusive with mobility playing a vital role for all participants. What were the standout features, and how did I experience them firsthand during my own stay in the French capital? Let me share three key takeaways.

Urban mobility is one of the most pressing challenges of our time and our MOTION team has brought numerous examples of urban mobility solutions in Europe that work. Creating sustainable solutions to meet the complex transportation needs of our cities and nations is a formidable task. The world faces a climate emergency, with the need to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050, as outlined in the European Green Deal. To achieve these goals, we must adopt a new paradigm that fundamentally reshapes how we move and live in urban areas.

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Fabienne Kleiner, Partner at Zurich-based 'echowerk' and the visionary behind the E-nova Mobility Experience. Despite being deeply immersed in preparations for the upcoming fair, scheduled from September 6th to 8th in the heart of Zurich, Fabienne graciously took the time to discuss the inspiration and goals behind this groundbreaking event. Now in its second year, Switzerland's first experiential fair showcases the full spectrum of sustainable mobility solutions, aiming to inspire and educate attendees about the future of transportation. Our conversation delved into the challenges and innovations shaping the mobility landscape, and how E-nova seeks to drive meaningful change in how we move through the world.

With the Olympic Games in Paris coming up at the end of July, MOTION Magazine took a deep dive into the key question for all urban centers that are brave enough to host a global event like that: What does it take for a host city or region to benefit sustainably from the Olympic Games in terms of infrastructure and from a socio-cultural viewpoint? Two games and cities - "host cities'' - will serve as examples in finding an answer to this question: Munich 1972 and Barcelona 1992. What made these games so special (and particularly sustainable), and where do great opportunities lie for Paris? Here is my attempt at an answer.