The iconic Champs-Élysées in Paris was pedestrianised today between 11:30am and 8:00pm as part of a wider initiative enabling the public to use many city-centre streets to walk, run, cycle and play sport.
The initiative, established by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, who is also a key figure in Paris’ bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, will be implemented every Sunday and on bank holidays across 18 districts in the centre of Paris during the summer months. The programme runs across 12 districts throughout the rest of the year and going forwards, the Champs-Élysées will be pedestrianised on the first Sunday of every month.
The innovative project, designed to improve the local environment and promote healthy lifestyles, demonstrates the city’s commitment to innovative solutions that create a more sustainable way of living for residents and visitors.
Paris’ forward-thinking approach to promoting sport and sustainable practices was further highlighted recently when the city hosted the Visa Paris ePrix – a city-centre road race with environmentally friendly electric-powered cars.
Earlier this year, Tony Estanguet, Co-President of Paris 2024, also underlined the sustainable nature of the bid’s Games Plan and how this is fully integrated with the future environmental development of the city. Estanguet, who is a member of the IOC Sustainability and Legacy Commission, spoke at the Innovation of French Sport and the Climate summit during the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) in Le Bourget, France, in December 2015.
The Paris 2024 bid additionally formed a strategic partnership with the World Wildlife Fund [WWF] in France in May 2016 to ensure the bid and the city’s Games Plan implements best practice in sustainability.
Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said:
"We are thrilled to expand this initiative to the iconic Champs-Élysées as part of the city’s sustainable vision and our ambition to see more citizens’ lead active, healthier lifestyles. Our aim is to present an Olympic and Paralympic project that works in total harmony with our city’s and nation’s long-term sports, economic, social and environmental strategies. Paris can become the model for other major cities in the way we promise to dedicate areas of the urban region to the promotion and development of sport and more specifically, Olympic sport.
Paris 2024 Co-Chairman, Tony Estanguet, said:
"We welcome the expansion of this fantastic initiative from the City of Paris that will help to change behaviours and encourage citizens be more active. Paris 2024 is a unique opportunity to return sport to the heart of our city and make it central to the lives of our citizens – reflecting a key goal of Agenda 2020. With innovative programmes like this alongside our new sports facilities in the inner city, Paris is ideally placed to help its communities make sport truly a way of life."
For more information, please contact:
Raphael Leclerc
Paris 2024 Bid Committee
Email: RLeclerc@paris2024.org
Mobile: +33 (0)6 73 16 88 06
Rob Fawdon
Vero Communications
Email: rfawdon@verocom.co.uk
Mobile: +44 (0)7769 216 649
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