With the Paralympic Games just days away, the athletes’ village in Paris is bustling with energy. Athletes from 168 delegations have begun to settle into their temporary home, located in the Seine-Saint-Denis department in the northern suburbs of Paris, as they prepare for their upcoming competitions.
The village, which temporarily closed on August 13 after the conclusion of the Olympic Games, reopened on August 21, allowing organizers just one week to transform the site to meet the specific needs of the Paralympic athletes. According to Laurent Michaud, head of the Paralympic Village, the rapid yet meticulous transformation is a critical part of the preparations.
“The village was built with inclusivity in mind from the start, but this final week was crucial for fine-tuning details to ensure that every aspect was perfectly suited to the para-athletes’ needs,” Michaud explained. “All roadways, sidewalks, and access points are fully accessible for people with reduced mobility. It is a 100% accessible village,” Michaud added.
The village has been specially designed to accommodate the 4,400 para-athletes expected to compete in the games. Among the most significant adjustments made are the installation of additional ramps and enhanced lighting throughout the village, which make navigation easier for athletes, regardless of mobility or visual impairments. Sandy floors and grates that could have posed challenges to wheelchair users are covered with mats to ensure smooth movement.
In addition, motorized devices are made available for wheelchair users, providing a powered boost to enhance mobility around the village. These devices have quickly become a favorite among the athletes, adding an element of fun and ease to their daily routines.
Ludivine Munos, a former French para-athlete and head of integration for Paris 2024, praised the village’s setup, describing it as a “paradise” for the para-athletes. “The goal was to provide the best possible experience for the athletes during their stay, ensuring that they could focus entirely on their performance without worrying about accessibility issues,” Munos said.
In the dining hall, tables are spaced out to accommodate wheelchair users, and some chairs are removed to create a more open layout. Philipp Wurz, head of food and beverage, emphasized these subtle yet important changes. Products in fridges are displayed on all shelves to ensure that wheelchair users or athletes of short stature could easily access them. Volunteers are on hand to assist athletes who required help carrying their trays, while a thin layer of rubber is added to trays for those who wished to carry them on their laps, preventing food from slipping.
Within the living quarters, electrical outlets are installed at a height of 45 cm (17 inches) from the ground, eliminating the need for wheelchair users to strain themselves by reaching down. In the bathrooms, grab bars are strategically placed—one attached securely to the wall and another with suction cups—providing flexibility for different needs. “The smallest details can make major improvements for para-athletes,” Wurz noted.
Beyond these practical adjustments, para-athletes will also be able to enjoy a range of services within the village, including a bakery, massage salon, grocery store, 24-hour gym, hair and nail salon, and a free clinic.
The Paralympic Games are set to begin on August 28 and conclude on September 8.
(With inputs from Associated Press)
