The athletes' village, where they will be during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, has officially opened and welcomed its first inhabitants. The village north of the capital Paris will host nearly 14,500 people, including 9,000 athletes, at its peak.
Eight days before the opening ceremony, the first team members to arrive on site were from Australia and Brazil. "We're super excited to see what the place looks like. It looks amazing, can't wait to get inside. We can't wait to get started", Australian field hockey player Stephanie Kershaw said before entering the Olympic village.
Organizers are proud to offer a village that does not require air conditioning, as temperatures inside are at least 6 degrees Celsius lower than outside in summer. Some delegations, including the US, have ordered air conditioners just in case.
The village contains numerous innovations designed to make it a model of low-carbon construction. After being used by Olympians and Paralympians from July 26 to September 8, the apartments will be converted into homes, with at least a third earmarked for council housing. | BGNES
