The Legacy of the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games: 20 measures aim to transform Paris

On June 25th, the City of Paris unveiled 20 ways that it will use the Olympic and Paralympic Games to benefit Parisian residents, reflecting the city’s ambition to create a more egalitarian, sustainable, beautiful, civically-engaged, and sports-focused city by 2024.  This action plan also demonstrates the city’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing the long-term effects of the Games and the legacy it will leave behind.

As early as the bid phase, the City of Paris committed itself to organizing “simple and sustainable” Games that fully involve residents. The administration also wanted these Games to serve as an accelerator of public policy in the Paris region.

Throughout 2018, open forums between residents and governmental bodies were carried out in order to build this “programme Héritage” (the Heritage Program). Nearly 100 meetings and eight major events were organized, involving 10,000 participants. 1,200 potential projects and ideas were brainstormed during this time.

On June 25th, the City of Paris presented the final 20 measures from its so-called “Olympic Transformations” plan.  This roadmap will guide the City of Paris as it organizes the Games, to ensure a useful, long-term legacy for the benefit of the city of Paris and its residents.  Read on to learn more about some of the stipulations of this action plan.

A more sustainable Paris

Disposable plastic: The City’s goal is to take advantage of its position as host of the Games to phase out the use of disposable plastic in the capital, with the hopes of ending its use completely by 2024.

The Périphérique: After the Games, certain hybrid vehicles will have sole access to the highway lanes that were used for the organization of the event. This development will accelerate Paris’ transition to eco-friendly and carbon-neutral transport.

Swimming: One of the city’s major aims is to “reclaim” its aquatic centers and natural bodies of water.  Municipal pools will be renovated and upgraded and water quality in the Seine and the city’s canals will be improved, with the city planing to host the triathlon and any open water swimming events in the Seine.  This provides the city a unique opportunity to prioritize environmental policies and achieve eco-friendly objectives that have been in place since the 90’s.

A more egalitarian Paris

Employment: 150,000 jobs will be created during the Games, particularly in high-demand sectors (construction, security, hotels, and restaurants).  Some 50,000 men and woman will be trained specifically for these jobs, while others will be trained for new professions in energy transition.

Accessibility: To ensure that the Games benefit everyone, especially people with disabilities, the City wishes to make all public spaces “accessible and connected”.  Mobility services will be extended to public transport to support people with disabilities during their commutes.

A more beautiful Paris

Arena II and renovation of the Porte de La Chapelle: A new 7,000-seat sports area with two gymnasiums, Arena II will serve as the latest venue for Parisian sports clubs and major sporting and entertainment events after the Games. The construction of this site will also provide an opportunity to contribute to the renovation and revitalization of the Porte de la Chapelle neighborhood.

The Eiffel Tower neighborhood: Another future site of the Games, the area surrounding the Eiffel Tower will be completely redeveloped by 2024.  Parisians and tourists alike will enjoy a more pedestrian-friendly site with plenty of green space.

A more civically-engaged Paris

Actions that save: 6,000 Parisian first responders will be trained for the Games. The City wishes to take advantage of this momentum to train hundreds of thousands of Parisians in first aid.

School dropouts: Paris is also using the Games to fight against school dropouts through sports. To achieve this, the City will set up “education through sports” programs in dropout centers and will launch a call for projects later this year to create educational support systems in conjunction with sports associations.

A sportier Paris

Sports for health: To ensure that the benefits of athletics are enjoyed by all, free group workout classes, taking place in Paris’ parks and squares, will be offered this year.  The city will also organize activities for overweight children in 2020 and implement the use of “sports as a prescription” throughout Paris by 2024.

School sports teams: Hoping to foster a generation of open-minded Parisians through sport and Olympic values, the City of Paris aims to make the city’s youth the main beneficiary of the Games. A major sports and cultural event between schools in Paris and Seine-Saint-Denis will thus be organized for 2020.

Source: Héritage des Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques : 20 mesures pour transformer Paris

Cover Photo: flikr, Guilhem Vellut Paris 2024 @ Tour Montparnasse @ Paris [CC 2.0]