Felicity Long
Years ago, I visited Athens during the run-up to the Summer Olympics, and I remember being struck by the number of key infrastructure projects still underway even though the Games were imminent.
By contrast, nearly all the public works related to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are already complete, according to Corinne Menegaux, managing director at Paris je t'aime Tourist Office.
In addition, those projects that are new are leaning heavily into sustainability, leaving "an ecological heritage," Menegaux said.
She cited the creation of the Olympic Way and the peripheric boulevard — designed to enable athletes and delegations to get around freely during the Games — which will be transformed afterward into a path dedicated to carpooling and collective transportation.
"Accessibility will also be a large part of the Olympic heritage," she said. "To this day, 17 areas for augmented accessibility have been identified by the City of Paris and are undergoing specific work to facilitate the access [to the events]. After the Games, this work will be extended to the whole of Paris."
Seine cleaned up for the Games
Especially interesting will be the use of the Seine River, which is undergoing a big cleanup, as a venue for swimming events.
Some events, including the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, will require tickets. Currently, 600,000 people will be able to see the ceremony and 100,000 tickets are available for the winners' tributes, but people will also be able to enjoy the show for free on the high riverbanks, Menegaux said.
"All along the route, the high platforms will be open to the public, with free access, [and] 80 giant screens all along the route will ensure nobody misses out on the entire show. "
The swimming marathon, an open-water swimming event, will require tickets for the arrival line and the tribune ceremonies, but as the competition is open-air in the heart of the city, visitors will be able to glimpse some stretches of the competition from the riverbanks.
How to get to Olympic events
I asked Menegaux about access to the events, which in past Games have proven to be a headache for congested cities.
"The ambition of Paris ... is that 100% of visitors can go to the competition's sites by public or active transportation," she said, adding that all the sites will be accessible by bicycle.
There already is a biking network of 620 miles in Paris, and a new 37-mile network, called Olympistes, will help link the competitions sites.
Meanwhile, 10,000 bicycle parking spaces are being added near the competition sites, and the fleet of rental bikes will be expanded to 21,000.
Where to stay for the Games
As to where visitors should plan to stay during the Games, Menegaux said: "We are recommending that visitors stay where it is more convenient for them, either next to the competition's sites, or inside Paris to enjoy all that the city has to offer besides the sport competitions."
Events will take place all over Paris and the Paris region, and hotels are available in the city, Greater Paris, the Paris region and the neighboring cities like Chantilly and Chartres.
"We are expecting an availability of 276,490 rooms during the Olympic Games, with an estimated occupancy rate between [about 54% and 75%]. Not all hotels have opened their reservations for next summer yet, so there will still be plenty of options to choose from inside and outside the city."
The official platform for hotel packages is managed by On Location for Paris2024.