The Olympic Village for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris officially welcomed its first athletes on Thursday, marking a significant milestone ahead of the grand event. Delegations from Australia, Brazil, Argentina, and Kenya have already arrived, adding to the vibrant international community.
Situated in north Paris, the expansive village spans approximately 54 hectares (540,000 square meters) and is designed to accommodate nearly 14,500 individuals, including up to 9,000 athletes at peak times.
Prominent figures such as International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and IOC Coordination Commission Chair Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant attended the opening ceremony.
\"Finally, we are here. It has been a long journey these seven years, but it has been a hugely rewarding one,\" Bach remarked. \"We have a wonderful Olympic Village, and all the ingredients for a great Olympic Games are here.\"
The village boasts around 80 buildings, including a state-of-the-art 3,200-seat dining hall offering diverse cuisine from around the globe, a 24-hour fitness center, a 3,500-square-meter polyclinic, a multi-faith center, and a convenient mini-market.
\"It's a Village that was built by athletes, for athletes,\" stated Laurent Michaud, director of the village. \"We've been able to provide all these services in an optimal way so that the athletes have only one thing to do, and that is to focus on their competitions.\"
The upcoming Olympic Games are scheduled to run from July 26 to August 11, featuring approximately 10,500 athletes from 206 national Olympic committees, including the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. Competitors will participate in 329 events across 32 sports.
Reference(s):
2024 Paris Olympic Village officially opens to welcome first athletes
cgtn.com
