Preparations for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games are in full swing as the Paralympic Village nears completion. Set to open its doors to athletes on Wednesday, the village promises enhanced accessibility and state-of-the-art facilities.
“All the Paralympic Village was actually already prepared,” said Laurent Michaud, Director of the Olympic and Paralympic Villages. “To welcome the Paralympic athletes, we created spaces with legacy in mind. We only had to make some changes in a few services regarding mobility, installing more micromobility devices so they have better possibilities to move inside the village, even if they are in a wheelchair.”
The 2024 Paralympic Games will begin on August 28 and conclude on September 8, hosting approximately 4,400 athletes from 160 nations and regions. Competitors will participate in 549 events across 22 sports.
Ludivine Munos, Paralympic Integration Manager for Paris 2024 and a former Paralympic athlete, highlighted the village’s commitment to accessibility. “What is just amazing is that everything takes care of accessibility,” she said. “If you are in the apartment, you can go directly outside without a ramp. You can go with your wheelchair. Everything is accessible—in the dining hall, you have different solutions to put your plate on the table.”
Ottobock, a partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, has established a repair center within the village to service prostheses, wheelchairs, and orthoses. The center anticipates performing around 2,000 repairs throughout the Games, averaging about 200 repairs per day.
Spanning an area equivalent to 70 football pitches, the Paralympic Village offers a wide range of amenities. Athletes will have access to a large refectory with various food stations, a vast sports hall, training fields for numerous sports, a polyclinic, prayer rooms, and an anti-doping center.
As the opening day approaches, excitement builds among athletes and organizers alike. The village stands as a testament to Paris’s dedication to hosting an inclusive and memorable Paralympic Games.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
