At Paris 2024, the concept of accessibility translates into providing the best conditions for people with disabilities to move around freely at the Paris 2024 Games, from the moment they purchase their ticket to when they take their place in the stands. A total of 280,000 reserved tickets have been put on sale for people with disabilities (PWD) and people in wheelchairs (PIW) for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In addition, Paris 2024 has put in place several innovative tools and solutions adapted to various forms of disabilities to provide the best possible spectator journey and Games experience to all people with disabilities.
1/ WHEN PURCHASING A TICKET
Paris 2024 operates one single real-time ticketing platform that offers the possibility to purchase tickets for a dedicated easy-access seat or wheelchair-adapted space reserved for people with disabilities. Paris 2024 audited all its competition venues to ensure all wheelchair positions offer good views and an immersive Games experience for spectators who use wheelchairs, even if the spectators in front of them are standing.
Four ticketing guides in HTML version have been published online. They include all the necessary information in a format compatible with a reading software for the visually impaired.
When purchasing their tickets, all buyers can add one for an accompanying person to make sure they can sit next to one another.
2/ WHEN GETTING READY TO VISIT A PARIS 2024 VENUE
Paris 2024 issued a dedicated page and a spectators’ guide on the Paris 2024 Games app to provide access information for each venue in the "getting there” tab.
Spectators can use the Paris 2024 Games app to access the online reservation website for accessible shuttle services and assistance at the station by Paris 2024’s official partner Île-de-France-Mobilités (IDFM) and assistance at the station.
3/ WHEN TRAVELLING TO A PARIS 2024 VENUE
150 accessible shuttles operated by IDFM are available to all people with disabilities who hold a PWD or PIW ticket from the seven Parisian stations and the Rosa Parks station for the price of a metro ticket, 4€, for the ticketholder and the accompanying person (and up to 3 children, in addition to the accompanying person). The reservation platform was launched in February and already offers the possibility to reserve trips for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
1,000 accessible taxis deployed in Île-de-France in 2024, which is four times the 250 accessible taxis available in Paris in 2022.
140 accessible stations on the Transilien network, especially those near Olympic and Paralympic competition venues.
650 additional parking permissions granted for taxis transporting persons with reduced mobility.
4/ WHEN ACCESSING A PARIS 2024 VENUE
Parking spaces allow people in wheelchairs (PIW ticket) to park their personal vehicle, in the limit of available spaces.
Toyota is offering micromobility solutions at twelve sporting or celebration venues for spectators to reach their seat thanks to Toyota’s “Accessible People Mover”.
Designated drop-off and pick-up zones inside venue perimeters for people with disabilities who are travelling by taxi or with a third-party driver.
A welcome desk dedicated to people with disabilities is located at the entrance of each venue and offers assistance or a wheelchair to their seat.
All welcome desks are equipped with BIM (magnetic hearing loop) technology to facilitate communication for people with hearing impairments.
All Paris 2024 volunteers have received training assisting people with disabilities with a range of good practices and reflexes e.g. introduce yourself, face them when addressing them, speak to them, not their companion, don’t pet service dogs, etc.
People with invisible disabilities who wish to be recognised can ask for a sunflower ribbon from the welcome desk dedicated to people with disabilities.
5/ WHEN ENTERING A PARIS 2024 VENUE
Fast-track entry dedicated to people with disabilities with adapted screening protocol with lower tables and an out-of-sight area if needed.
Lower or covered floor cable protectors to facilitate movement to people in wheelchairs.
Adapted signage was put up in all venues with sitemaps, pictograms, bilingual information in French and English, in visible colours and large fonts.
A canine comfort zone was installed for guide and service dogs.
Goods in shops and on counters are displayed vertically in order to guarantee accessibility to people of short stature and those who use wheelchairs.
Accessible water fountains with adjusted height buttons.
6/ WHEN WATCHING COMPETITIONS IN A PARIS 2024 VENUE
Audio-description: An audio-description service is offered to the visually impaired for a selection of sports events at the Olympic Games (athletics, football, judo, swimming, tennis and equestrian) and Paralympic Games (boccia, blind football, goalball, Para athletics, Para badminton, Para judo, Para swimming, Para table tennis, and wheelchair tennis). Open to all spectators, this service is available in French and English (with a live commentary version by Olympic Broadcasting Service). For the first time, this service will be available in the Games official app by spectators entering their ticket number on their mobile phone and plugging their personal earpieces. In total, 460 hours of cumulative listening time for a selection of 123 medal events will be offered at 13 competition venues. All available events are signalled by “AD” in the ticketing app and spectator’s guide. For the specific case of vast sites (such as the Elancourt Hill for mountain biking, the National Golf or Versailles for the cross-country event), a live commentary service, alternately in French and English, will be offered by the speakers and hosts of the Sports Presentation Team.
Speeches and remarks at all ceremonies will be systematically subtitled and interpreted in French Sign Language for deaf people and those with hearing impairments.
Innovative initiatives facilitate accessibility of some competition venues:
Tactile tablet: For visually impaired persons, a tactile tablet will allow users to indicate in real time the position of the ball thanks to a moving magnet and to the intensity of the game via a vibration system. It will be available at six competition venues in the greater Paris area: Parc des Princes, Stade de France, Bercy, Tour Eiffel, Paris Sud 6, Champ de mars Arena. The service will be available for three Olympic sports at 32 events (football, rugby, and basketball) and for four Paralympic sports at 37 events (blind football, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, and goalball). In total 45 tablets are available for 213 hours (92 hours at the Olympics, and 121 hours for the Paralympics). The service will be mainly available via prior reservation through a form issued to associations representing people with a disability. A limited number of tablets will also be available inside venues.
Low vision headset: For visually impaired persons, the low-vision headset (enabling used to zoom in on the field of play) at the Stade de France for athletics, Para athletics and the two closing ceremonies.
The vibrating vest, an innovative system designed to convert audio signals into vibrations, enables hearing impaired persons to feel the intensity of the game. This service is available for a certain number of persons with disabilities via a game contest by Optic 2000, Paris 2024 Official Supporter, for a limited number of events only (football, blind football, and Para athletics). Winners will be given the vest ahead of the event and will arrive with the equipment at the venue.
Paris 2024 opened its doors to a telepresence project called Robby, a robot designed to enable children residing in hospitals to take part in the Games celebration remotely. Two robots will take part in the Games for four days (two during the Olympic Games, and two during the Paralympic Games) and will enable children in eight hospitals to unique backstage experiences as Games spectators. For one hour, these youngsters will be able to connect to a mobile system to explore competition venues and iconic places, interact with people on site, and feel the Games’ atmosphere and vibe in telepresence.
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