In Paris the same Olympic Village, but with several adaptations

The Italian national team, after arriving in Paris late yesterday afternoon, reached the Paralympic Village in the evening, which is the same one that hosted the Olympic athletes and is welcoming the first delegations.

The environment complies with all universal accessibility standards, but further modifications have been made on the days between events.

“As Village Manager Laurent Michaud explained to me – says Technical Director Alessandro Arcigli – public spaces, streets, sidewalks and pedestrian crossings were all designed from the very beginning to allow wheelchair users to pass through and ensure that they are completely self-sufficient and do not run physical risks. Unsafe spaces, in fact, can lead to falls or excessive strain on the muscles of the upper or lower limbs or joints and to prevent this as much as possible, ramps have long been present in all key areas, such as the main entrance, the delegation reception center or the bus station. Among the changes made after the Olympics, the main one involved the marking of some jumps that are not very visible and can therefore represent a tripping hazard. They have put yellow and black stripes to identify them and, due to some elevated areas of the village, a shuttle system has been set up”.

Even for tourists with disabilities, services have been recalibrated according to their specific needs. For this reason, not only the Village, but also the rest of the city of Paris has made a small revolution, adapting and positioning public water fountains at heights that allow access to people in wheelchairs, guide dogs and assistance dogs and even the visually impaired who can reach them more easily.

“Just like the common spaces – explains the technical director – the private spaces at Paris 2024 are also characterized by inclusivity. If the cardboard beds, which are still present at the Paralympics, have been widely criticized, no complaints can be made regarding the accessibility of the rooms of the Paralympic athletes. They are large enough to allow a wheelchair or someone who moves with specific devices to be able to do so freely and they are all equipped with an adapted bathroom, in which there are wheelchairs in the showers, to facilitate transfers, and temporary support bars, for those who are able to walk but need support to get up, reach certain points better or maintain better balance”.

The services offered in the Paralympic Village, which just like during the Olympic Games, include a hairdresser, minimarket, restaurant, laundries, fitness centre, Village Club and much more, have also undergone some changes. In particular, the heights of the shop and restaurant counters have been reviewed and lowered. The training areas have also been readjusted, to allow the 4,400 athletes of the 180 delegations to prepare. A repair centre for prostheses and wheelchairs is always active at the Village.