PARIS: The newly constructed athletes’ village was officially turned over to the Paris Olympics organizers on Thursday, as planned, boosting optimism that the venue will be ready for competition.
Chief organizer Tony Estanguet accepted a symbolic complex key in front of dignitaries, including President Emmanuel Macron, during an inauguration ceremony in northern Paris.
Approximately 14,000 people will reside in the approximately 40 low-rise tower blocks during the July 26–27 Olympics, and an additional 9,000 individuals will do so during the Paralympic Games.
A day earlier than expected, on March 1, the vital Olympic infrastructure was turned over. It was emphasised by all parties involved that the development was completed on schedule and just slightly over budget.
Following his meeting with employees, Macron told reporters, “It’s a demonstration that we have honoured our commitments.” The workers should be “proud” to be part of what he called “the adventure of a century.”
The village served as a crucial test to see if the Paris Games could stay away from the mistakes made in previous years.
The Olympics’ reputation has continuously been damaged by wasteful overspending, hurried construction projects, and costly “white elephant” infrastructure projects.
Concerns over climate change have also prompted activists to draw attention to the massive carbon footprint of an international competition that attracts competitors and fans every four years.
The organizers of Paris saw themselves as pushing a new “sobre” paradigm that emphasizes recycling, reusing, and cutting-edge low-carbon technologies in addition to making use of temporary or existing sporting infrastructure.
Nicolas Ferrand, head of infrastructure for the Olympics, said Macron, “We’ve made a village that’s a showcase, but also a manifesto of what we know how to do best in France today in response to the major questions posed for urbanization in the 21st century.”
The village’s proponents assert that by utilizing wood buildings, low-carbon concrete, and renewable geothermal heating, it will produce around half the carbon emissions during its lifetime when compared to a comparable project constructed using conventional building methods.
Situated on a site by the Seine that is a focal point for redevelopment efforts in the economically distressed Paris district of Seine-Saint-Denis, the village is the largest new-build Olympic project to date.
The nation’s stadium is located in this impoverished and highly criminalized suburb of continental France.
“We committed to building a new neighborhood for Seine-Saint-Denis above and beyond an Olympic and Paralympic village,” Laurent Michaud, the organizing committee’s director of village operations, stated to reporters earlier this week.
Private real estate corporations have contributed around two thirds of the 2.0 billion euro ($2.2 billion) budget, with the state providing 646 million euros.
It will feature training facilities, an alcohol-free bar, and a restaurant open around the clock during the Games.
Subsequently, about one-third of the 2,800 units will be sold to private owners, another third will go toward public housing, and the remaining portion will be available for student rentals.
Though costly tickets, political squabbling, and disruptions to daily life in the capital have recently soured the mood, opinion polls indicate that the majority of French people are in favor of the Paris Games.
When asked about the national mood, Macron responded, “Wherever the Games have been held, you have inconveniences that come at the end.”
A small water-processing plant to recycle water for the over 9,000 trees and bushes that will be planted on the property is one of the village’s other environmental improvements.
Ferrand continued, “The village is already prepared for the climate of 2050.”
Athletes’ mattresses are constructed from repurposed fishing nets and reinforced cardboard, while certain pavements are fashioned from oyster and other seashells to absorb heat.
Over 300,000 pieces of furniture and décor will be added to the village over the course of the following four months by the organizers.
The distinct designs of the tower blocks are meant to emphasize the “architectural variety” that is recognized as a defining characteristic of European cities.
