With less than 10 days until Paralympic athletes from 182 delegations across five continents arrive, the Paralympic Village near Paris is prepared to welcome them.
Originally designed for the Olympics with accessibility in mind, the village is now undergoing final adjustments to cater specifically to Paralympic athletes, according to its directors.
“All public spaces were already prepared to accommodate Paralympic athletes, as the village was built with a legacy for post-Games use,” said Laurent Michaud. “We only needed to make some changes to enhance mobility services, such as installing additional micromobility devices to improve movement within the village for wheelchair users.”
The village, which spans 52 hectares—equivalent to 70 soccer fields—will host 4,400 athletes competing in 22 sports at various iconic venues, including the Château de Versailles. It features extensive amenities such as a large refectory with multiple food stations, a vast sports hall, training fields, a polyclinic, prayer rooms, and an anti-doping center.
A repair center, operated by Ottobock, a partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, has been established within the village. The center will handle repairs for wheelchairs, prostheses, and orthoses, addressing any issues that may arise during the 11-day event. “We expect to carry out about 2,000 repairs throughout the Paralympics, averaging 200 repairs per day,” Michaud added.
The Paralympic Games will officially begin with an unprecedented outdoor opening ceremony on August 28.
