From the aesthetics to the overall function of the living quarters, these details make the Paris Olympic Village truly special.
The first-ever Olympic Village was introduced 100 years ago when Paris first hosted the Summer Games. That year, Paris became the first host that was required to provide all the participating athletes with what they would need to live in the city throughout the duration of the Games, from accommodations to food. Thus, the iconic concept of the Olympic Village was formed.
Because of this, the Olympic Village has become one of the focal points of every host city throughout the years. After all, accommodating the world’s best athletes all in one place is a daunting task on its own.
And this year, exactly 100 years since Paris introduced the first of its kind, the city is once again setting the standard for the modern Olympic Village. Here are three things that make this year’s edition special.
Focus on sustainability
There is no doubting how aesthetically pleasing the Paris Olympic Village buildings. However, these Instagram-worthy buildings go far beyond their looks. More than this, the team behind the Olympic Village wanted to put a priority on its sustainability.
While the Olympic Committee was conceptualizing the village for this year’s edition, they had long-term goals in mind. Rather than building an Olympic Village that specifically catered to athletes, instead, they dreamed up an entire neighborhood that would house the athletes throughout the duration of the Games, but afterward, serve as homes or office spaces in the city.
This is part of the city’s efforts to support Paris’ housing crisis, as these buildings can house around 3,000 apartments.
On top of this, you might also notice that some of the buildings in the Olympic Village have solar panels on the roof, as part of the city’s initiative to run the Games largely on renewable energy. Many of the roofs also have lush gardens which will also help to keep the apartments cool, especially as the events will be held in the middle of summer.
Far from home
It isn’t just the buildings that are geared towards sustainability — the insides mirror this initiative as well.
The rooms dedicated to the athletes in the Paris Olympic Village have everything they would need for their stay: a living room, beds, and other necessities. And much of the furniture has been made from recycled materials.
Taking a look at the bed, you might notice that the frames are made out of recycled cardboard. While it might sound like a flimsy concept, they are actually just as stable as a regular bed (a video of someone jumping on the bed was even posted on Instagram to prove this). In addition, some of the stools and chairs found in the living rooms are also made out of similar materials.
Dining in style
France is known for its food, perhaps more than anything else. Thus, it’s only fitting that one of the most impressive features of the Paris Olympic Village is the restaurant where athletes will be dining every day.
Approaching the entrance of the restaurant building, the contenders will have to pass a pathway lined with the flags of all the participating countries, what they call the “athlete’s path,” which also serves as a daily reminder that they are all a part of global sporting history.
Once they get inside, they will be spoiled for choice, as there will be a wide array of options — over 500 recipes were developed for this event so that chefs could offer French, Asian, African, and Caribbean cuisine to cater to all the athletes. They will definitely have more food than they can eat, but Paris’ commitment to sustainability will also apply here, as all the uneaten food will be recycled to achieve a zero-waste policy.
All this is to make sure that all the athletes feel at home even while they represent their countries from miles away.
Banner images from International Olympic Committee and Paris 2024 on Instagram.
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