From the iconic 80,000-seat Stade de France in Saint Denis, which will host athletics, Para athletics, and rugby sevens, to the Saint-Quentin Velodrome for cycling events, 95 percent of the Olympic venues are either pre-existing facilities or temporary structures that will be dismantled and reused after the Games. 

Names like Roland Garros and Parc des Princes are well-known to sports fans worldwide. All venues are accessible via public transport. A key aspect of the Paris 2024 strategy is to minimise travel between venues. Nearly all Olympic sites in the Paris area are within 10 kilometres of the city centre.

Historically, cities underwent significant changes to accommodate the Olympic Games. However, with the introduction of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap emphasising sustainability and legacy, the approach has shifted. The Games are designed to adapt to the host cities and address their long-term needs. 

Adopted in 2015, Olympic Agenda 2020 mandates organisers to prioritise existing and temporary venues, reduce environmental impact, and leverage the Games to generate lasting benefits for local communities. Paris 2024 is the first Olympic Games to fully align with the requirements of Olympic Agenda 2020, utilising 95 percent existing venues that have been upgraded and modernised not only for the Games but also to provide long-term sports opportunities for local communities.

Additionally, spurred by the momentum of the Games, the French government has committed to constructing 5,000 "proximity" sports grounds nationwide, making sports more accessible to everyone, closer to their homes. The “reduce, repurpose, and reuse” strategy for venues is poised to drive the decarbonisation of France’s construction industry. 

Such initiative supports the country's efforts to cut carbon emissions in the building sector, aligning with the European Union’s goal to reduce overall emissions by 55 percent by 2030. Even the venues constructed specifically for this year’s Games have adhered to the principles of reducing and reusing. 

The impressive 5,000-seat Olympic Aquatics Centre in Seine-Saint-Denis is hailed as the "main architectural icon for a Summer Games committed to minimal new construction." This ultra-low carbon structure was built using primarily bio-based materials, such as timber, and features a massive 5,000m solar roof. 

Its concave design aids in naturally heating the air and regulating humidity levels inside the venue. Additionally, the 5,000 spectator seats are made from recycled plastic bottle caps.

The strategic placement of the Aquatics Centre and the Olympic Village in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris, areas historically under-invested, is intentional. In these neighbourhoods, over half of the 11-year-olds cannot swim. Post-Games, the Aquatics Centre will serve the local community as a multi-sports hub, providing swimming, climbing, and fitness facilities.

The emphasis on sustainability extends beyond the competition venues. The Olympic Village, which will accommodate 23,500 athletes and support staff during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is designed to transform into a new residential neighbourhood. 

Such development will feature over 2,800 apartments, with a quarter designated as public housing and the rest providing affordable units for low-income workers and students. The first residents are expected to move in by spring 2025.