Practical information accessibility

In conjunction with Paris 2024, the City of Paris, Île-de-France Mobilités, the RATP and the SNCF, the French government has produced an infographic outlining the accessibility arrangements in place for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It describes the main facilities being deployed from the moment people get off the plane or train until they arrive at the competition venues:

• Preparing your trip
• During the Games
• At the competition venues and beyond
• A legacy for tomorrow

Travelling to and within France

Arriving in France via ADP Group airports

Prepare for your flight and make your travel easier by discovering all the adapted services at Paris Airport.

Depending on your needs, the Mobility Assistance service will accompany you at every stage or just part of your journey at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly.

Paris Airport also recognises the Sunflower of the « Hidden Disabilities Sunflower » programme for travellers with invisible disabilities.

Flying with Air France

SAPHIR Programme

With its SAPHIR Programme, an information and booking assistance service for people with disabilities, Air France offers a range of specific services for all its flights to make travelling easier for people with disabilities who have reduced mobility.
This free service is available in France and 20 other countries around the world. If you would like to benefit from assistance during your trip, you can submit your request directly online when completing your booking. Please remember to submit your assistance request as soon as possible and at least 48 hours before the departure of your first flight.

Mobility card (Carte Mobilité Inclusion, CMI) for departures from French airports and when presenting the card

If you have a CMI mobility card with Disability or Priority status, you can benefit from priority access to baggage drop-off counters and for boarding, in addition to security check-in queues.

Hidden disabilities

Air France recognises the Sunflower from the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower® programme as a symbol that helps identify and ensure an easier travel experience for its customers with disabilities that may not be visible.
If you choose to wear a Sunflower lanyard, you can request support or additional help from staff who are trained to recognise and better understand hidden disabilities. However, this distinctive symbol does not allow you to benefit from special treatment or priority access for security check-ins.

Travelling by train with the SNCF

How can i benefit from assistance for train journeys?

People with disabilities and reduced mobility are entitled to free assistance at their departure and/or arrival stations, from a dedicated welcome area through to their seat on the train. This service is available in more than 1,000 stations across France. Assistance may be essential for wheelchair users depending on the stations and trains concerned. In some cases, arrangements to help them get on or off their train will need to be put in place by the agents.

During busy periods, it is advisable to book this service in advance, 3 months before the date of travel, to ensure that you have access to assistance. Without a booking, assistance may be subject to availability.

Assist'enGare offers a single booking service in French and English to make it easier to book any train.

You can access Assist'enGare :

• By Internet using the booking form;
• By telephone every day from 8am to 8pm, on 32 12 and +33 (0)9 72 72 00 92 from abroad (free service + call charge) ;
• or via RogerVoice, the special call centre for the deaf and hearing-impaired people

More about the assistance service

Before buying your train ticket, we recommend checking that assistance services are available in the station concerned and for the times required. To do this, visit garesetconnexions.sncf and Transilien.com, in the “Search a station” section.

How can I travel by train if I use a wheelchair?

Wheelchair users are welcomed on SNCF trains in dedicated spaces, with an average of two seats per train. Outside the Ile-de-France region, this can rise to four seats when two trains are linked.

Remember to book as early as possible!

To help you plan your journeys at stations and on your journey, you can check the operating status of lifts and escalators throughout France. To do so, go to garesetconnexions.sncf.

Learn more

Visit the dedicated site sncf.com presenting the services and support offered by the SNCF for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility: dimensions of wheelchairs that are accepted on board, discounted fares for people accompanying them, possibilities for assistance and service dogs, services for people who are deaf or hearing impaired, equipment available on board and in stations, etc.

In brief

Watch this video to find out all the key information for people with reduced mobility when travelling by train.

Download this document summarising the steps involved in preparing for a train journey in France or from abroad if you have a disability.

Travelling to competition venues

To help make your journeys easier in the Île-de-France region during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a range of adapted and specific services are being put in place. There are five ways to get to the competition venues.

Dedicated transfer services for wheelchair users

During the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Île-de-France Mobilités will be providing a dedicated shuttle service for spectators in wheelchairs.
This service will serve only venues located in the Île-de-France region. Given the expected crowds on the public transport network, this will be the preferred solution.

These transfer services will be for people with wheelchair user tickets for a Paris 2024 competition venue and another person who may be accompanying them. They will connect all the competition venues in Île-de-France to the following stations:

• Paris Austerlitz ;
• Paris Gare de l’Est ;
• Paris Gare de Lyon ;
• Paris Gare du Nord ;
• Paris Montparnasse ;
• Paris Saint-Lazare ;
• Paris Bercy - Bourgogne Pays d'Auvergne ;
• Rosa Parks (RER E) in the 19th arrondissement of Paris.

Tickets for these wheelchair user transfer services will need to be booked. Please note: bookings will no longer be possible 48 hours before the competition you will be attending!

Would you like to find out more about the service on offer to make sure it meets your needs? Click here to find out more about the shuttle service.

To travel to these stations from your accommodation, you can use the accessible public transport network, an accessible taxi or your own car.

Travelling with public transport

If you want to travel by public transport in the Île-de-France region, you will find below the most accessible solutions close to the competition venues.

All the practical information you need about the accessibility of public transport in Île-de-France is available on the Ile-de-France Mobilités website.

Once you are in stations, don't hesitate to ask the staff for assistance.

By RER and trains operated by SNCF Transilien

Contact the "Assist'enGare" service to book, modify or cancel an assistance service. More information in the section "Travelling by train with the SNCF" above.

Bicycle/handbike/tandem parking areas

Free, supervised bike/handbike/tandem parking is available for spectators. The location of these areas will be available into the spectator guides. The distance from the bike/handbike/tandem parking area to the site entrance varies from venue to venue and can be up to 1km.

By taxi and adapted taxi

A spectator with a People with disabilities or Wheelchair users ticket can be dropped off by VTC, taxi or adapted taxi. For the Games, the number of accessible taxis has been increased from 250 to 1,000 in the Paris region to meet your needs. Contact a taxi or VTC operator and ask to be dropped off at one of the minute drop-off zones.

On the day of your visit, you will need to bring your People with disabilities ticket, proof of disability such as a CMI or equivalent and a Games Pass (for more details on how to obtain a Games Pass, please read the section below entitled ‘By motorised vehicle’).

By motorised vehicle

Access to drop-off and parking areas is subject to possession of a CMI (Carte mobilité inclusion) card and a PSH or PFR spectator ticket. For people wishing to access the drop-off zone to pick up a PFR/PSH spectator, access is conditional on presentation of a copy of the spectator's CMI card and a copy (screenshot, without QR Code) of the ticket of the spectator to be dropped off or picked up.

Accommodation during the Games

Get an Airbnb with step-free features for the Games

Attending the Olympic and Paralympic Games? Book your stay on Airbnb using our accessibility search filters to find a place that suits your needs.

• The Adapted category: Discover unique homes with verified accessibility features, including step-free paths into the home, bedroom and bathroom. Each home in this category receives a detailed 3D scan to confirm its accessibility features and display key details like doorway widths.

• Enhanced search filters: 13 accessibility features available to search to help you find homes that suit your needs. We review every accessibility feature submitted by Hosts of stays for accuracy.

You can browse available step-free listings for the Olympic Games on our dedicated page.

SERVICES AVAILABLE AT COMPETITION VENUES

Paris 2024 and city volunteers will be here to welcome you as you arrive at the site, at the drop-off points and car parks, and to direct you to the site entrances.

On the day of the competition, people with disabilities or special needs will be welcomed on site by Paris 2024 volunteers trained for this purpose. This includes dedicated information desks, priority access to the site, a wheelchair accompaniment service provided by a volunteer, magnetic induction loops at information points and ticket desks, and a dog-friendly area.

Other accessible and innovative services will be available to enhance your viewing experience at certain sessions, including :

Audio for all:

This audio description service for the visually impaired is open to all, enabling you to fully experience the excitement of the Games and discover new disciplines. For example, audiodescription will enable you to familiarize yourself with the rules, refereeing decisions and disability classifications for the Paralympic Games.

The audiodescription service will be provided on :

• 6 Olympic disciplines (Athletics, Football, Judo, Swimming, Tennis, Equestrian) and ;
• 9 Paralympic disciplines (Boccia, Cécifoot, Goalball, Para Athletics, Para Badminton, Para Judo, Para Swimming, Para Table Tennis, Wheelchair Tennis).

Paris 2024 offers this service mainly for medal events, for which session details are available in the online ticketing price list.

Below, you will find the list of sessions covered by audio description in HTML version:

The audiodescription service will be available directly from your phone by logging in via the official Paris 2024 Games app.

To access this service, you will need to anticipate the following two conditions:

• If you are located in the competition stadium and have a ticket for one of the sessions;
• Bring your headphones or earphones to listen to the audio stream, which will be available in both French and English.

Paris 2024's audiodescription program aims to be innovative by regularly broadcasting accessible content on available public spaces (accessible toilets, PSH areas, water fountains...).The aim is to accompany you as best as possible from your arrival to your departure, helping you to find your way around the competition venue and easily access accessible services.

Vision Pad:

This tactile tablet service is dedicated to the visually impaired, enabling them to experience the events in an immersive way. With your fingertips, you'll be able to follow the position of the ball live, as well as feel the vibrations according to the intensity of the game.

The vision pad service will be available in Ile de France for :

• 3 Olympic disciplines (Basketball, Football, Rugby) and ;
• 4 Paralympic disciplines (Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby, Cecifoot, Goalball).

Details of the sessions are available in the online ticketing price list. HTML version of the list of sessions featuring vision pads coming soon.

The number of vision pads per session is limited. If you are interested in this system and have a ticket for one of the sessions, you can pre-book by clicking on this link. The procedure for collecting and returning the touch pad to the stadium will be confirmed in advance of the Games.

The audiodescription and interactive tablet services are complementary and may be used simultaneously for certain sessions.

Low vision helmets:

These helmets are designed to enhance the viewing of live sport by adapting to the specific needs of visually impaired spectators. This innovative and inclusive technology enables the helmet to be adjusted to the viewer's own vision, in zoom and/or video mode.

Low-vision helmets will only be available at the Stade de France for :

• 3 disciplines (Athletics, Rugby 7s and Para Athletics) ;
• 2 ceremonies (Olympic and Paralympic closing ceremonies).

Paris 2024 offers this service for certain sessions, the list of which is available in HMTL version on this link (coming soon).

To access this service, you will need to anticipate the following two conditions:

• Hold a ticket in Category A - block S7, where the helmet distribution area is located;
• Approximately 10 helmets will be allocated on a "first come, first served" basis.

Referents will be on hand during distribution to help you get to grips with and adjust these helmets, so you can make the most of the event.

As a reminder, Paris 2024 reserves the right to ask spectators with a wheelchair ticket or an accessible ticket for their inclusion mobility card or equivalent documentary evidence at the entrance to the sites. Have you bought a wheelchair or accessible ticket by mistake? Contact us by clicking here.

EXTEND YOUR STAY

Are you coming to Paris and want to make the most of the City of Light? Discover Myparisjetaime, your companion for exploring Paris in a different way! Available in a dedicated version for visitors with disabilities, Myparisjetaime offers exclusive content, practical information, outings and activities that take account of special needs, as well as interactive and geolocated maps for a unique Parisian experience.

To make the most of Paris and the other host cities, visit a cafe or restaurant, enjoy a museum, find your nearest bakery or deli, check out Acceslibre for the corresponding accessibility information.