Transportation in Paris is a big issue whether you have special needs or you happen to be the Paralympics torch. Getting around Paris accessibly for the Paralympics is possible. The City of Paris has upgrades and motivation. The Paris Tourist Office, Region Ile-de-France, and the RATP will make transportation easier. My interest in learning more came from a reader. She asked me about renting a wheelchair for the games. At a press briefing I learned about a company that can help. Too late. The reader had come and gone. She wrote that the transportation for her in a wheelchair was unpleasant; impossible to use the metro. She attended only one of her events. This one question and her frustration made me curious to know more. Researching opened up a gold mine of information, which was not easy to find. I hope I am not too late passing it on. All the links below are either available in English or can be translated within your browser. If you see links with a line through them, they work anyway: cyber gremlins.
Transportation during the Paralympics
Are you attending one of the games and need special transportation to the sport venues? An accessible shuttle (photo) is available for people with disabilities and those accompanying them. This dedicated transport service is one way or round trip and takes you to the competition venues. The shuttle uses eight central Paris stations. Use the Paris2024 application. With purchased tickets (example photo below), reserve the shuttle. Follow the special needs instructions and book your trip. The cost is four Euros one way and eight Euros round trip. Write to the tourist office at handicap@parisjetaime.com to rent a wheelchair or scooter/chair combination at the Games. Contact Omni directly hello@omni.community for more information for general rentals. (photos of Charlotte) or book through Omni online at Paris je t’aime.
Knowing which lines are accessible is helpful when choosing a hotel. One hundred percent of the Paris buses, trams, RER B and C and Orlyval are accessible. For the metro only line 14 is completely accessible. Line 4 is accessible between Porte d’Orléans and Bagneux Lucie-Aubrac stations. Line 11 between Porte des Lilas and Rosny-Bois-Perrier stations.
La Terrasse des jeux Accessibility
Borrow a wheelchair/scooter combination for free at the games terrace/La Terrasse des jeux in front of city hall/Hôtel de Ville. For accessibility help, visit one of the three welcome booths/accueil. The volunteers are multilingual and have many solutions. They will lend you a sunflower lanyard to wear during your visit. It gives you priority seating and line placement. There is always a long line for the laser/video games and the upstairs photo booth. To visit the terrace with a view, use the ramp to the right side near the children’s climbing wall. The photo booth is free and gives you four different clichés and a souvenir bookmark with the photos. Scan the QR code on the bookmark for a link to a video and your photo booth images.
Special Needs Toolkit
The Paris Tourist office has an online practical guide video for the Games. They are active links and can be clicked on from the video. (photo) In 2019-2020, they published an online guidebook for accessible Paris, which can be downloaded as a pdf. Many of the items of both publications will still be useful.
The tourist office website will have more updates and information, including accommodation, sightseeing and restaurant accessibility. Since 2020, their name has changed to Paris je t’aime. Their temporary locations for the games. and they have no permanent, physical locations. For the Games, visit SPOT24. (Line 6 Bir-Hakeim and RER C Champs de Mars).
Smartphone applications
- The Olympics 2024 app
- Paris 2024 Tickets app
- Transportation app for Paris 2024
- More information about the shuttle service
- Paris tourist information at your fingertips
- Storing your bags If storing your bags during your stay is an issue, RATP proposes Nannybag. Use the code RATPMAP for a 20% discount. Visit the Nannybag website and choose your language
The Paralympic Torch is Using Public Transportation
The Paralympic Torch relay journey begins in Stoke Mandeville continuing through the Channel Tunnel/Chunnel. Midway through the tunnel, the 24 British athletes pass the flame to 24 French athletes. Twelve separate flames will travel through 50 French cities. One will head directly to Paris. Four days later the cauldron is lit on August 28. This is the first time since 1948 that France hosts the Paralympics. Stoke Mandeville Hospital is the historic birthplace of Paralympic sport. The first competition was wheelchair archery.
The Torch Route and more…
- Paris relay locations English
- Paris relay locations French
- Design of the torch
- Choice of torchbearers
The Paralympics Symbol
An updated version of the Agitos (Latin “I move”) logo of the Paralympics symbol appeared in 2019. with the traditional colors of red, blue and green appeared in 2019. At least one of the Paralympics colors of red, blue and green are found in flags globally. The symbol is a visual representation for the Paralympic Movement.Their values are courage, determination, inspiration and equality. Earlier designs are also on this page for the International Paralympic Committee.
Paris Accessibility Tips page updated in 2024.
