The 2024 Paris Olympic Village
The summer 2024 Olympics kicked off with a splash Friday – literally. The four-hour opening ceremony featured 85 boats ferrying 6,800 athletes on the Seine. This innovative approach to a time-honored Olympic tradition was an effort to make the event accessible to a larger audience and to showcase the iconic (and recently cleaned) Parisian river. It also isn’t the only creative solution that Paris is embracing during the Games. This year’s Olympic Village is set to be a landmark development, reflecting an effort to build a lasting, sustainable community in a historically underserved district of the City of Lights – but it comes at a cost.
Located in the Seine-Saint-Denis region, just north of Paris, the Olympic Village will temporarily house thousands of athletes from around the world during the Games. Beyond its immediate function, the Olympic Village is designed with a focus on long-term benefits for the community and the environment. After the games, the Village will be transformed into a new mixed-use neighborhood, providing much-needed housing in the region. Once an industrial district, Seine-Saint-Denis is home to over 1.5 million people, a third of whom are migrants. The area has the highest rate of individuals living in street encampments, shelters, or abandoned buildings of any other administrative district in France.
The Village is designed to be adaptable, allowing for future modifications based on community needs. Once the Games are over and the athletes return home, the Village will shift gears and become a new network of mixed affordable housing, schools, sports facilities, and commercial spaces. The village will also incorporate extensive green spaces, including parks and gardens, promoting biodiversity and providing athletes and others with relaxing natural environments.
The Olympic Village is also strategically located near major transport hubs, making it easily accessible for athletes, officials, and visitors. The extension of public transport lines, including new metro and tram connections, will enhance connectivity and reduce the reliance on private vehicles.
Historically, Olympic Villages have come under fire for their impact on existing communities. The Paris 2024 Village is no exception. The City has received criticism for its displacement of established residents of Seine-Saint-Denis in preparation for the Games. The Village promises to leave a positive, lasting impact on the region – one that will provide needed housing, services, and connectivity. However, the cost of developing the Village is one that cannot be overlooked.
This year’s Olympic Village is designed for long-term, sustainable use. It represents an understanding of the impact that the Games have on residents and a departure from how Villages have historically been developed. It is not without its flaws, but Paris has demonstrated how the design and development of Olympic Villages can really go for the gold.