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Paralympics Australia has completed its final planning visit to the Host City, as the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games draws closer.
Leaders of PA’s Games’ functional areas, led by Australian Team Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin, spent the six-day visit touring Games venues, meeting with the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, the Australian Embassy in Paris and inspecting transport, accommodation and service suppliers which will be used by the Australian team in August.
The topics discussed in meetings with 2024 Games organisers were transport, security, accommodation, food and beverage, accreditation, logistics, arrivals and departures, venues and infrastructure, the Paralympic Village, hospitality and ticketing.
McLoughlin said the visit was an important opportunity to finalise preparations with the Games under 200 days away.
“It’s exciting to see the Village and venues come together after our initial visit two years ago,” McLoughlin said.
“We are grateful for the relationships we have formed with the Organising Committee and other key stakeholders on the ground in Paris, all of whom will be critical to our success at the 2024 Games.
“The team on the ground used their time brilliantly, measuring venues, checking courses for triathlon and marathon athletes, and checking transportation to ensure everything is ready for our athletes.”
PA’s delegation also met with stakeholders, including Australia’s Ambassador to France, Her Excellency Gillian Bird, at the Australian Embassy.
“We have toured local hospitals, met with caterers, delivered PA artefacts to a Parisian Museum preparing an exhibition on the Paralympics, visited several hotels,” McLoughlin said.
“We also tested transport routes between the village and various venues, and the village and the Mob hotel.”
Other highlights included a tour of the Paralympic Village and competition venues, including Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Vélodrome (Para-cycling) and Grand Palais (wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby and Para taekwondo).
“The Grand Palais is an incredible venue, the capacity is around 8000,” McLoughlin said.
“It’s in the heart of Paris, with the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop, it will be an amazing atmosphere for our athletes to compete in.”
PA team members also travelled to the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, which is around two hours away from Paris.
The Chateauroux Shooting Centre will welcome 160 athletes when shooting Para sport events take place and is equipped with several shooting ranges.
“It’s important our team understand the venue and accommodation in this area and how we can ensure our athletes feel included, given the shooting team will be separated from the main group,” McLoughlin said.
The PA Games delivery team also navigated and recorded the official marathon and triathlon courses with the information to be shared with Athletics Australia, Triathlon Australia and Para-athletes to ensure they’re best prepared for the more technical elements of each course.
The Paris Paralympic Games will take place from August 28 to September 8, 2024, with 4,400 athletes expected to compete across 549 medal events in 22 sports.
By Natalie McGarry, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 27 February 2024
