‘Games wide open’ is the philosophy of Paris 2024, which is expecting almost 280,000 people with disabilities to visit its venues during the summer. Thanks to a wide range of accessibility solutions, everyone will be able to enjoy the Olympic and Paralympic experience to the full.
Behind the notion of accessibility, Paris 2024 has designed a complete package for people with disabilities (PWD). From the ticket purchase to the seat in the stands, everything has been planned to provide a total and ideal experience for each spectator. As a result, no fewer than 280,000 tickets for people with disabilities and wheelchair users have gone on sale for the Games. Behind these tickets, Paris 2024 is offering a range of facilities and solutions adapted to every type of disability. Let’s take a look at these solutions, which will ensure that you can enjoy every moment at the competition venues.
Audio-description
For people with visual impairments, an audio description service is available for a selection of sports sessions at the Olympic Games (athletics, football, judo, swimming, tennis and equestrian events) and Paralympic Games (boccia, cecifoot, goalball, Para athletics, Para badminton, Para judo, Para swimming, Para table tennis, wheelchair tennis). Open to all spectators, this service will be available in French and English (with live commentary produced by the Olympic Broadcasting Service).
For the first time, this service will be available on the official Games application by entering your ticket number on your phone and plugging in your personal headphones.
A total of 460 hours of cumulative listening, from a selection of 123 medal sessions, will be available at 13 competition venues. Each session will be identified by the ‘AD’ logo on the ticket office and in the spectator guide. In the specific case of very large venues (Elancourt, the Golf National or the Château de Versailles), a live commentary service, alternating between French and English, will be offered by the speakers.
Subtitling and sign language
For the deaf and hard of hearing, subtitling is systematically provided and sign language is used regularly during speeches and speeches at official ceremonies.
Touch Tablet
There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to take full advantage of a show. That’s why Paris 2024 is providing support for the visually impaired by using a touch-sensitive tablet that not only shows the position of the ball live (thanks to a moving magnet) but also lets them feel the intensity of the game through a vibration system. Thanks to this device, everyone will be able to fully experience the stadium atmosphere. It is being deployed at six competition venues in the Paris region: Parc des Princes, Stade de France, Arena Bercy, Stade Tour Eiffel, Arena Paris Sud and Arena Champ-de-Mars.
– 3 Olympic sports and 32 sessions are involved: football, rugby 7s and basketball.
– On the Paralympic side, the tablets will be available for 4 disciplines and 37 sessions: cecifoot, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball and goalball.
A total of 45 tablets available for 213 hours of competition and thrills for all.
Low vision helmet
Visually impaired people will also be able to take advantage of the low-vision headsets available at the Stade de France during the athletics and para-athletics competitions, as well as during the two closing ceremonies. These helmets will zoom in on the field of play, offering an even more immersive experience in line with the performances of the athletes on the track.
Robby, the robot
Paris 2024 has opened its doors to a telepresence project called Robby, a robot that allows disabled young people with a passion for sport who cannot physically take part in the Games to do so from hospital. Two robots will be taking part in the Games, giving eight hospitals the chance to give a number of disabled children a behind-the-scenes look at the Games. For one hour, these young people will be able to connect to a mobile device to explore the competition venues and emblematic sites of Paris 2024, interact with the people on site, and feel the atmosphere and energy of the competition and celebration venues.
A whole range of accessibility aids
- A dedicated online purchasing platform
Paris 2024 has set up a single real-time purchasing platform with the option of booking tickets for disabled people (easy access seats, or EAS) and seats adapted for wheelchair users (wheelchair accessible seats, or WAS). Of course, all purchasers have the option of buying a ticket for their companion to ensure that this person is seated alongside them.
- The information comes to you
For everyone’s convenience, Paris 2024 has created a dedicated page and a spectator guide on the Paris 2024 Games app to provide information about access to each venue. The exact addresses of the drop-off/pick-up zones and the PFR car parks are provided so that you can prepare your arrival by vehicle with peace of mind.
- On-site visits
It is possible to take advantage of the accessible shuttle service set up by the official partner Île-de-France-Mobilités (IDFM) from the Paris 2024 Games application: 150 accessible shuttles have been put into service for all disabled people holding a PSH or PFR ticket departing from the 7 major Paris stations and Rosa Parks station at the price of a €4 metro ticket for the disabled person and their companion.
140 stations are now accessible on the Transilien network, particularly near Olympic and Paralympic competition venues.
- Optimised access
On site, a reception desk dedicated to people with disabilities is located at the entrance. Wheelchairs can be loaned and visitors accompanied to their seats.
There is a dedicated queue cutter for people with disabilities, with an adapted search protocol, if necessary out of sight.
- Trained
All Paris 2024 volunteers are trained in how to accompany people with disabilities, and in the right gestures and reflexes to adopt (for example: introduce yourself to someone, speak to them face-to-face, speak to them and not to the person accompanying them, do not pet a guide dog…).
And there are many more solutions! To find out everything you need to know about accessibility, check out the Paris 2024 press release on the subject, as well as the dedicated page on the website.