Paris streets transformed for 2024 Olympics: three perspectives

The Pont Neuf bridge over the Seine river, which is closed to vehicle traffic during the 2024 Paris Olympics. © Zeenat Hansrod

Some of the 2024 Olympic Games events will be held in the heart of Paris, and some of the city's streets have undergone drastic change to accommodate them. RFI spoke to Parisians about how the vast Olympic operation is affecting them.

In readiness for the Olympics, homeless people have been removed from security zones, while municipal cleaning teams are busy ensuring that streets remain pristine for the 15 million visitors expected for the Paris Games.

RFI spoke to three Parisians about the changes: one who lives on the streets of the city, one who uses them as his canvas, and one who cleans them everyday.

Xavier, homeless person

I am homeless at the moment. I was kicked out of my tent because of the Olympic Games. I used to live in a tent near Austerlitz station, on the banks of the Seine river.

One morning, policemen came, ripped away my tent and threw all my belongings in a garbage van that was waiting on the side of the road.

We tried to resist but there was no point. They escorted us away by force.

Xavier says his tent was cleared out by police ahead of the Paris Olympics. © Zeenat Hansrod

We are a sore sight for the Olympic show.

If you do not have 600 euros for a hotel room, the Olympic Games is not great for homeless people.

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Zeko, graffiti artist

I am a Parisian artist who works a lot on the streets, but also in my workshop.

I don’t have the impression that the Olympic Games is making a big difference in the city, except that there are twice as many police than there are people.

Paris looks deserted these days. There are many police officers who came from the countryside as reinforcements, and they do not bother me when they see me painting on the walls.

Zeko, a Parisian graffiti artist, says he hopes to leave his mark on some of the Olympic venues. © Zeenat Hansrod

I cannot wait to see what difference the Olympics will bring to the vibe of the city. There is usually lots of tourists in summer, there’ll be more coming while most Parisians have fled the city.

Will the tourists take over our city? I don’t know… we’ll see.

I am not going to follow the restrictions imposed in certain areas. I may even try to sneak into one of the sports events.

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Wilfried, bin worker

I have been working as a bin worker for the past 21 years in Paris.

The Olympic Games in Paris is so special, it last happened 100 years ago. It’s going to be a celebration.

We’ll have more people working to keep the city clean and with overtime, I think it’s going to be fine.

Wilfried, a bin man in Paris, says he expects the Olympics to be "a big party". © Zeenat Hansrod

There’ll be definitely more waste as there’ll be more people. Yesterday at the Notre Dame site, for example, the public dustbin was overflowing with mounds of waste all around.

I won’t attend the Games as I do not have tickets. I’ll follow them on TV.

The Olympic Games is a big party. We’re not going to be bothered by the negative aspects, they’re not important.

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