Nearly 20,000 Displaced Ahead of Paris Olympics

A coalition of over 100 community organizations, Le Revers de la Médaille, reported that nearly 20,000 people were forcibly displaced from informal housing in the Paris region ahead of the 2024 Olympics, describing the actions as 'social cleansing.' The report highlighted a 41% increase in eviction operations from April 2023 to September 2024 compared to the same period in 2021-2022, with over 4,500 minors affected. The coalition claims there is substantial evidence linking these displacements to Olympic preparations, including eviction orders that cite the Games as justification. French officials, including Marc Guillaume, the prefect of Île-de-France, have denied a direct connection between the Olympics and the eviction rate, asserting that alternative housing was offered. President Emmanuel Macron addressed the situation, emphasizing the social legacy of the Olympics and efforts to rehouse individuals. The coalition is now calling for a reevaluation of the Olympic hosting model to prevent future forced removals.