The Porte de la Chapelle Arena, venue of badminton and Para badminton at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, was inaugurated on Sunday, 11 February 2024.

The Porte de la Chapelle Arena is the only new venue to be built in central Paris, and the first new Olympic site to be delivered and in operation.

The venue, which has a seating capacity of 8,000, will host badminton from 27 July to 5 August. After the conclusion of the badminton competition, it will host rhythmic gymnastics from 8 to 10 August, and then Para badminton and powerlifting at the Paralympic Games.

Inauguration day saw a number of activities – such as fencing, wheelchair basketball and urban dance – for children and their parents on Sunday to introduce local residents to the new cultural hub in their neighbourhood. The first ever event to be held in the Arena will be a French basketball championship game between Paris and Saint-Quentin.

Inclusive Venue

All of the 8,000 seats in the Arena have been made using recycled plastics. The Arena has been designed to be inclusive for those with disabilities, including those with visual and hearing impairments.

A sensory room – the first of its kind in an arena in France – is also available for those spectators with behavioural or autistic concerns.

“What we will experience from now, it’s already a taste of the magic of the Olympic Games,” said Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, during a ceremony with elected representatives, guests and journalists from all over the world in attendance.

Leaving a Legacy

The Porte de la Chapelle Arena also houses two gyms to be used as warm-up areas for athletes during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. From September 2024, the facilities will be used by schools and clubs in the area as part of the legacy of the Games.

The Porte de la Chapelle Arena has been planned to help transform the north Paris area, with a major regeneration project in the works, with parks and green spaces.

“This construction site is a formidable symbol, a formidable community-gathering place, and why we are hosting the Olympic Games,” said Amélie Oudéa-Castera, Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. “It’s a sublime showcase for sporting performance, but it’s also a superb demonstration of the dynamism that the Olympic Games can give to transformations that are long awaited.”