First impression: “This is an essential stage of these Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The project seemed crazy to some, which was to make exemplary Games, games which would allow a particular legacy for Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis, for all Ile-de-France residents, for all the territories which are involved in the Games which would hold a budget, deadlines which would be exemplary in social and environmental matters.
We know that this is often where difficulties arise when preparing for the Games.
Today, in this symbolic moment, it is the demonstration that we are meeting the commitments that were made.
This demonstrates that France is a nation of builders.
As the reconstruction of Notre-Dame is being completed, this project will have been delivered on time, on time and on budget.
And despite the Covid, despite the two years of inflation, despite the war in Ukraine, the Solideo teams, all the companies in conjunction with all the local elected officials, the developers, the architects... have done an extraordinary job which fact that it is the largest development project for the creation of housing and the creation of offices in France and it was completed in absolutely record time.
We build, we move forward.
To discover
Paris 2024: the map of Olympic sites
Then it was done in exemplary social conditions which were integrated from the start.
I want to thank the entire charter committee, the work of all the union and employer organizations, the commitment of Bernard Thibaut who on this site, there were four times fewer accidents than on an average site In France.
Which shows social exemplarity.
It is a construction site on which there were up to 4,000 people per day, more than 40,000 in total.
There were young people and old people.
There is integration and jobs created in the department and an example in terms of security which will inspire us.
This project was carried out in exceptional conditions in terms of materials and organization.
Here, we are meeting the commitments of the 2040 building. All the housing is ready for the climatic conditions of 2050. Without air conditioning, keeping the heat in winter, preventing it from coming in in summer, which is also exemplary.
So commitments kept thanks to the teams.”
Safety:
“In terms of safety, it has been an obsession from the start, it is one of the other projects of these Games.
They mobilize the minister, the Police Prefect, all elected officials and all partners.
Our police officers, our gendarmes, our municipal police and private security will be deployed to secure many sites.
A colossal amount of work has been done.
It has started to be explained and will be detailed by the Prefects.
All stakeholders are mobilized.”
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What about Russian and Belarusian athletes: “
The International Olympic Committee, through its discussions, defines the rules of engagement.
They are proportionate.
Sport must allow unity and appeasement and the choice that was made is a choice that we will assume collectively.
We support Ukraine, we sanctioned Russia.
But athletes under a neutral banner, with conditions of respect and sobriety, must be able to defend their work and their sport.
Poutine ?
I will not make a geo-political comment here, that would not be the place.
These are sufficiently serious subjects, each of the words I say on this subject is weighed, thought out and measured, I think that it is not today that we should talk about it.
Israeli athletes: “
It's the same thing.
We know very well that when there are international geopolitical crises, the Olympic and Paralympic Games are always targets.
We are aware of it.
We talked about it a lot with elected officials from the start, that's why there will be preparation, support, we will be ready.
We will be there.”
The starting point while waiting for the fever: “
Everywhere in the Olympic and Paralympic Games that have been organized, you have inconveniences that come at the end.
With the mayor of Paris and several here, we were at the Tokyo Games, there was 82% unpopularity of the Games a week before.
We are very far from that.
There are Games that our compatriots support.
We are very vigilant on this point.
These Games, one of the initial commitments was that there would be a legacy.
For where the Games are held, which sometimes creates a lot of inconvenience for the inhabitants, which will make their lives more complicated, this is the case for the inhabitants of Seine-Saint-Denis, there is a heritage.
We transformed three municipalities and a good part of the territory with this Village.
We have accelerated many travel projects, stations and access between Paris and the department.
Without the Games, we would not be here today to create thousands of homes, to create so many offices and these facilities which will remain after the Games for residents.
It must be a factor of adhesion.
The smooth running of these Games will allow us to facilitate that, then it will be up to us to explain.
We committed ourselves by innovating with social ticketing by purchasing hundreds of thousands of tickets for committed civil servants and residents to go to events.”
Transport: “
We work hand in hand.
What interests me are the results.
And step by step, we must achieve results.
We look at each stage to see what is working and what is not working, we are mobilizing, there is only good will, France is a team, we are moving forward, we will all be there.”
Opening ceremony and swimming in the Seine: “
We are doing our best to hold a ceremony which will be a world first.
which will make us all proud, will be great, which will create constraints but at the same time a lot of pride.
It must be explained and arranged so that these constraints are proportionate.
We will make this unique moment habitable and liveable for each and everyone.
For Parisians there will be important legacies on developments, and in particular the Seine.
For the Seine and the Marne, there was an extraordinary investment which was made by the municipalities, the State, for the Parisians the river and Marne will have changed their face and use the day after.
Bathe in it?
And how !
There were commitments made.
I will go…"