The athletes’ village for the Paris Olympics and Paralympics officially opened on Thursday, welcoming its first inhabitants. Situated to the north of Paris, the village will accommodate nearly 14,500 people, including 9,000 athletes, at its peak.
The first team members to arrive, eight days before the opening ceremony, were from Australia and Brazil. “We are ready,” declared Augustin Tran Van Chau, the village’s deputy head, to French media.
Organizers are proud of the village’s innovative design, which eliminates the need for air-conditioning to maintain cool temperatures. Inside, the temperature is expected to be at least 6 degrees Celsius (42 degrees Fahrenheit) lower than outside during summer. However, some delegations have opted to bring their own air-conditioning units.
The village features numerous low-carbon construction innovations, aligning with efforts to create a sustainable environment. After the Olympics and Paralympics, which run from July 26 to September 8, the apartments will be repurposed into homes, with at least a third allocated for public housing.
This sustainable approach aims to leave a lasting positive impact on the community, setting a precedent for future Olympic villages.
