Clément Beaune’s observation is clear: “we have to speed up. The Minister of Transport reported on Saturday of the “delay on the objectives in terms of accessibility in transport and stations in particular” and of “the need to work twice as hard” on the sidelines of the Paralympic day in Paris.
The Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will be held in less than two years, are “an opportunity to strengthen things and show that we are also capable of having innovative solutions”, because “we cannot put everything accessibility,” explained the Minister, alongside Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) who is monitoring this issue and would like to see more accessible metro stations.
Establishment of a “mobility committee”
For the Games, there will be a “taxi and shuttle service”, confirmed the Minister of Transport. The new lines and stations will all be accessible. He also mentioned the new “mobility committee”, announced by the Elysée last week, which “will meet every six weeks” to take stock of the crucial issue of transport in general for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Following a meeting on Thursday with the Prime Minister, an associative group of 52 associations pleaded for the government to accelerate its efforts to ensure that people with disabilities can access all buildings and transport and most goods without hindrance. and services. In a circular published the same day, the head of government also announced the forthcoming appointment of an interministerial delegate for accessibility.
Several ministers were present on Saturday at the Paralympic day at Place de la Bastille in Paris and tried their hand at wheelchair basketball, parajudo or wheelchair tennis in the presence of many Paralympic champions. In addition to Clément Beaune and Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, were present Jean-Christophe Combe (Solidarities) and Geneviève Darrieussecq (people with disabilities). Arriving before the ministerial procession, the PS mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, also toured the stands. Parasport demonstrations and initiations took place throughout the afternoon, with great success among the children.