Lighting the Flame for Change by Ryan Soares

Lighting the Flame for Change, a visualization about the Paris 2024 Olympics, highlights the precedent and new standard it set for future Olympic games to come. We wanted to focus on five major issues that the games are focusing on: gender equality, LGBTQI+ inclusion, representation of disabilities, mental health support, and environmental sustainability.

With these areas of focus, we wanted to represent them in three different ways: The precedent or what the Paris 2024 Olympics is doing to address those issues, how those issues have improved or worsen over time, and an athlete that has been affected by those issues. Ultimately, it was to show the impact these issues had a macro and micro level, like the Olympic games and athletes, respectively. With these issues being addressed, Paris 2024, ultimately sets a new standard and precedent for future games to come, essentially passing the torch to the next Olympic games.

We used Tableau to develop the visuals and to take advantage of features that’d allow for navigation, pop-ups (like our walkthrough guide), and expansion of visuals and videos. Figma was used to create the overall design and background of the visual. The colours used for the visual were based on the Olympic colours, with each colour given to a specific issue.

Ultimately, we wanted to showcase how the Olympic games can be a catalyst for change by not only bringing forth issues, but putting them to action, as well. The games themselves make impactful change, but it also gives a platform for athletes to make a statement about issues that matter so dearly to them too.