PARIS — The Paris Olympic Village opened on Thursday, initiating the arrival of athletes from across the globe for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games. The village is set to host approximately 10,500 competitors from 206 National Olympic Committees and the Refugee Olympic Team.
According to Philippines News Agency, who visited the village alongside Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Organizing Committee, and Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant, chair of the Paris 2024 Coordination Commission, the village opening marks the culmination of seven years of preparation. Bach praised the facilities and the efforts of the organizing committee, expressing optimism for the successful hosting of the Games.
Athletes will be accommodated primarily at the 54-hectare main village located by the Seine River, with additional athletes staying in satellite villages in Chateauroux, Lille, Marseille, and Tahiti, catering to specific sports like shooting, basketball preliminaries, handball, sailing, and surfing respectively. The Olympic Village is equipped with a range of facilities designed to meet athletes' needs, including a 3,200-seat dining hall, a 24-hour gym, a 3,500-square-meter polyclinic, and various recreational areas where athletes can relax and interact.
The Paris 2024 Athletes' Commission played a crucial role in the planning stages, ensuring that the facilities were tailored to the athletes' requirements. The village also includes the "Athlete 365 Space" which offers information on IOC support programs and holds elections for the Athlete Commission members.
Post-Games, the Olympic Village area is planned to transform into a new neighborhood in the Seine-Saint-Denis region, featuring 2,500 homes, a hotel, student residences, and numerous offices and shops. This development aims to provide sustainable living spaces and employment opportunities for around 6,000 residents and is designed to adapt to climatic conditions, mitigating the effects of climate change.
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games are scheduled to run from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8.