2024-02-29 23:48:41
The interior of the Paris Summer Olympics athletes’ village accommodation taken on the 27th of last month. /AFP Yonhap News
The athletes’ village that will be used for this year’s Paris Summer Olympics has been revealed. In order to reduce carbon emissions as much as possible, bio materials such as wood are actively used in the building, and air conditioning is not installed inside the accommodation.
On the 29th (local time), the Paris Olympic Organizing Committee handed over the keys to the athletes’ village from Solideo, a public organization in charge of construction of Olympic infrastructure, and held an official opening ceremony. The athletes’ village is located in Saint-Denis, Saint-Ou-en-sur-Seine, and Lille-Saint-Denis, on the northern outskirts of Paris. The total site is 52 hectares, which is equivalent to the combined area of regarding 70 soccer fields.
The athletes’ village consists of approximately 80 buildings, including lodging and auxiliary facilities. There are 7,200 rooms. It will accommodate approximately 14,500 athletes and staff during the Olympic Games and 9,000 athletes and staff during the Paralympic Games. The main restaurant has a seating capacity of 3,200.
Solideo structured the athletes’ village in a way that reduces carbon emissions as much as possible. First of all, bio materials such as wood were actively used during the construction process. Clean energy sources such as geothermal heat and solar energy are used as electricity sources. Also, instead of installing indoor air conditioners, natural cooling was attempted through layouts that promote air circulation between buildings and diversification of building sizes. Through this, the plan is to maintain the internal temperature regarding 6 degrees Celsius lower than the outside even during heat waves.
The exterior of the Paris Olympic Village building. /AFP Yonhap News A view of the restrooms inside the athletes’ village. /Reuters Yonhap News Inside the Paris Olympic Village. /Reuters Yonhap News
Inside the accommodation, the ‘corrugated cardboard bed’, which was first introduced during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and became a hot topic, was used. Previously, the Paris Organizing Committee signed a contract with Airweave, a bed and mattress supplier for the Tokyo Olympics last year, to receive 16,000 corrugated beds and mattresses for the Paris Olympics. As some controversy over durability arose, Airweave CEO Mutokuni Takaoka jumped on the bed himself at a bed unveiling event held in Paris, France to emphasize its durability. The organizing committee explains that it takes only 12 minutes to assemble in order without nails, screws or glue.
President Macron, who attended the opening ceremony, said, “This is a day that shows that France is a country of architecture,” and added, “You have accomplished work within a limited time and budget while setting an example in social and environmental aspects.”
According to the Olympic website, athletes and staff will begin moving into the athletes’ village on July 12. The athletes’ village will be closed for a while following the Olympics, but will reopen 10 days before the start of the Paralympics. Once the Paralympic Games are over, the athletes’ village will be transformed into general housing, student dormitories, hotels, and general offices in 2025.
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