Most of the events at the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in Paris this summer will be held in the 14th century. It will be held at existing memorials, including the Invalides complex on the Left Bank, which was built during the reign of Louis XVI to house wounded veterans while keeping them separate. from the rest of the population. The mentality the name represents should be a relic of the past, but as the Games draw closer, some argue that the city still has a way to go in its marathon of inclusivity.
When Paris bid for the Games in 2017, the city laid out a plan for “a sports-focused journey towards a society where no one is left behind.” The games will be used as an opportunity to improve the capital’s historically lacking accessibility knowledge for people with disabilities.
Organizers expect around 350,000 disabled visitors to attend this summer, and all venues are reportedly accessible, at least in terms of physical infrastructure, thanks in part to temporary infrastructure such as pop-up venues and shuttle buses.
But some campaigners are worried about the legacy that will be left after the Games. Nicolas Mérille is national advisor on universal accessibility at leading charity APF France Handicap [the word “handicapé” is still used in France to mean disabled]. “There has been a concerted effort to consider in preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, but these measures will only last for the duration of the Games,” he says.
Around 1,000 accessible taxis were added to the city’s 250 accessible taxis; some of these were repurposed as London taxis. More than 1,750 bus stops have undergone renovations over a three-year period, so that all but two of the more than 60 routes crisscrossing Paris now have step-free access. Buses have ramps that the driver must use upon request.
But Mérille thinks the French capital still falls short compared to London in 2012, citing the proportion of tube stations in London with step-free access (18 percent during the London Olympics and around a third now). The equivalent figure in Paris, which the APF puts at just 3 percent.
Christophe Decloux, head of the Visit Paris Region, said that in addition to disabled people, pregnant women, the elderly, those traveling with baby strollers, etc. insists that accessibility is a key priority for people with special needs such as: “We have put a lot of effort into making this destination more accessible since 2016, and we have a team dedicated to accessibility,” he says.
The metro’s new driverless Line 14 will connect the Olympic Village area in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis to the city center and will be the only line fully accessible to people with reduced mobility. Across the wider network, lines 1, 4 and 14 have voice announcements to assist visually impaired people, while lines 1,2, 3 and 13 visually indicate where the tube stops for the hearing impaired.
According to Decloux, the metro is inherently limited by the density of Paris and the historic pitted quarries beneath the city. “Everyone is working to make Paris accessible to everyone, but today all the metro stations that are replaceable have already been replaced: this is not a lack of ambition or will.”
Annette Masson, president of Tourisme et Handicap, a nonprofit that aims to help tourism professionals make their offerings accessible to everyone, describes the lack of awareness and sometimes consideration among the general population. “Bus stops are accessible, but drivers park their cars at bus stops,” she says.
Legislation regulating accessibility on public sites already exists. The first bill was passed in 1975 and followed in 2002, then in 2005 the French state passed the bill “for equal rights and opportunities, participation and citizenship of persons with disabilities”.
For many working in this field, the hurdle is the gap between the letter of the law and its practical implementation. Masson suggests there needs to be more education among the general population, as well as greater enforcement by the Government if people don’t follow the rules.
This is an assessment with which Nicolas Mérille agrees, going so far as to accuse the state of failing people with disabilities by not adequately enforcing the law. While all new buildings must comply with the regulations, there is significant flexibility for existing structures. “The laws are still not enforced,” says Mérille. “We have the laws, but we are letting them die slowly.”
Masson also perceives a training gap when it comes to hotels and restaurants. “Often [hotel and restaurant owners] Consider only adding the amenities, not the experience of using them. “For example, maybe they add a shower seat, but not in the right place,” he says.
In 2023, President Macron announced a €300 million fund to finance affordable renovations for small businesses, with first priority given to regions hosting Olympic events. But campaigners like Mérille argue that not enough effort is being made to promote the opportunity.
Tourisme et Handicap also aims to raise awareness among tourism sector providers about all access needs, not just mobility reduction. The organization is working in partnership with the French tourism authority Atout France and has developed a verification and certification system for hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions.
While accessibility in Paris for locals and visitors alike still has a way to go, there are reasons for optimism (see below). Accessibility features are reportedly excellent at the Aquatics Center in Saint-Denis, the only facility built entirely for the Games. Housing built for the nearby Athletes’ Village is also accessible and will become part of the local housing stock after the events. “We hope that these Games will create an electroshock for French society,” says Mérille.
Fundamentals
For more information, visit:
Accesslibre (Atout France; French tourism board)
Visiting Paris with a disability (Paris tourist board)
Inclusivity and accessibility in games (Paris tourism board)
Paralympic Games torch relay route
‘A little planning goes a long way’: What it’s like to visit Paris as a wheelchair user
By Lucy Webster
Paris, like all ancient European cities, may not be the most accessible place you could think of for a holiday on wheels or hosting the Paralympics. But in my experience, a little planning goes a long way and exploring the city is much easier than it might seem at first glance. I have been to Paris several times using both a manual and electric wheelchair and have always managed to see, do and most importantly eat everything I wanted.
As in other cities such as London and New York, the Metro is virtually a no-go zone except for the new, fully accessible Line 14. There are other accessible metro stations on different lines, but I didn’t think there were. It’s just worth the stress of navigating the system when you’re in town for a long weekend. A real disappointment was how difficult it was to find an accessible taxi, especially compared to London; they had to make reservations in advance or wait a long time. So I was glad to hear about the planned increase of 1,000 accessible taxis, with just 250 available in 2022. It is a shame that the city did not use this opportunity, and perhaps the pressure of the Paralympics, to further improve public transport. system.
But for me, the lack of accessible transport in Paris mattered less than in London because of the French capital’s standout triumph of access: how easy it is to walk or stroll between major attractions or simply through the city’s beautiful streets. This way, you see more of a place and create more excuses to try a patisserie along the way. I love cities where I don’t have to worry about getting from point A to point B, and Paris’s compact center and well-placed low sidewalks make traveling easy.
The attractions are very accessible and almost all have discounted tickets for disabled people and companions. Taking the elevator down into the pyramid at the Louvre is an experience in itself, and both times I went to see the Mona Lisa. A kind guard helped me stand in front of the crowd so I could see properly. Note that even though there is an elevator right next to the stairs in the vast palace, this does not necessarily mean that they will lead to the same place! But it really does seem like every effort has been made at the main attractions – I was delighted to discover that there is a lift to get over the rather daunting spiral staircases in Sainte-Chapelle, which is well worth a visit. Most of the time you can even skip the queue.
Museums are also great places to use the restroom; Just like in London, even step-free restaurants and bars may not have accessible toilets. I had to strategically pee and drink as usual. Accessible hotel rooms are also difficult to find; Although major chain hotels have them, we had to give up hope of staying in a charming Paris hostel. Luckily we weren’t in the hotel much, so we opted for convenience over ambiance and stayed at the centrally located Novotel Les Halles. Access isn’t perfect, never has been, but it’s still pleasant to cruise along the River Seine in the sunshine.