When athletes walk through the Paris Olympic Village or into the stadium in the coming weeks, high-tech and sustainable lights made by an Australian small business will illuminate their way.

Planet Lighting based in the small New South Wales mid north coast town of Bellingen was chosen to manufacture the lights for part of an interactive installation that will become a permanent fixture in the French capital.

The company has supplied 1,800 LED light fixtures, known as pucks; 800 have been placed in the village and another 800 illuminate a ramp between the village and main stadium.

Planet Lighting director Mia Iggulden said landing the opportunity to supply lights for the Olympics had been exciting for the team of 50.

“The security measures on [the Olympic] site were very strict so we just made them here in Bellingen, shipped them off and [they’re] working perfectly,” she said.

ABC Sport is live blogging every day of the Paris Olympics

The lights on the stadium walkway represent the 800 medals to be awarded at the games.

Each light has a QR code and after the Olympics the medal winners will have their details uploaded so fans can scan the code and be taken to their biography.

The puck lights also play an important role in preventing light pollution.

“We have a saying: ‘This puck gives us light where its needed’,” Ms Iggulden said.

“It’s an asymmetric light reflector that gives a path for the photons to shine downwards.

“It means that no light goes up, which is really important for France because of dark sky requirements.”

A new theme in the lighting world

Ms Iggulden said more of their clients wanted lights that did not artificially impact surrounding wildlife and the environment.

“Its a new theme in the lighting world because a lot of cities are having big problems where you can’t see the stars,” she said.

“To get that more natural feel, the light needs to shape down … you don’t need light illuminating trees where the wildlife sleep.”

University of Sydney School of Architecture and Design professor Emrah Baki Ulas said awareness of the importance of well-designed outdoor lighting had increased over the past few decades.

In June this year, Sydney’s Palm Beach headland became the first Urban Dark Sky Place in the Southern Hemisphere.

Dr Ulas said it was an example of how lighting could be consciously utilised in urban areas. 

“The lighting on the headland was upgraded or ‘downgraded’ if you like — it beautified and enhanced the nightscape using warm tones,” he said.

After illuminating the Paris Olympics, Ms Iggulden is hoping to maintain the association.

“We’re hoping for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics,” she said.

“We’re excited to see what the future will hold.”