Nearly 20,000 People Displaced Ahead of Paris Olympics Due to Evictions and Social Cleansing

Nearly 20,000 individuals were displaced from temporary shelters or camps in the Paris area before the Olympics, according to a coalition of over 100 community organisations. The group, Le Revers de la Médaille, reported that between April 2023 and September 2024, 19,526 people were removed from informal housing. This action is described as "social cleansing" by the authorities.

As Paris prepared for the influx of Olympic visitors, significant renovations took place. These included evicting migrants and squatters from areas near event venues. The report suggests that some individuals faced multiple evictions, potentially leading to repeated counts. The group claims there is evidence directly linking these displacements to Olympic preparations.

Eviction Operations Surge

The data reveals a notable increase in eviction operations, with 260 occurring between April 2023 and September 2024. This marks a 41% rise compared to the same timeframe in 2021-2022. Among those displaced were over 4,500 minors. French officials have yet to respond to these estimates provided by the coalition.

Paul Alauzy, spokesperson for Le Revers de la Médaille, stated there is clear evidence connecting these displacements to Olympic preparations. "There are images, internal government documents, and eviction orders explicitly referencing the Olympics as justification," Alauzy said.

Security Measures and Government Response

The city implemented stringent security measures for the Games, especially for the unprecedented opening ceremony along the Seine River. Attendees needed a QR code after a double-check process. In August, Marc Guillaume, prefect for the Île-de-France region, mentioned in a radio interview that eviction rates hadn't increased due to the Olympics and that alternative housing was offered to those displaced.

French President Emmanuel Macron also addressed this issue in August. He claimed France had created a social legacy linked to the Olympics. "I'm not forgetting that we have succeeded in creating a social legacy for the Olympic Games, with more than 200 marginalised people who used to live on the streets around the venues now having a permanent home," Macron stated at an August conference.

Call for Sustainable Practices

The coalition is advocating for a reassessment of how future Olympics are hosted. They propose establishing a permanent site for future editions and adopting sustainable practices to reduce displacement risks. This call aims to address concerns about the impact of such large-scale events on vulnerable populations.

The report highlights ongoing challenges faced by displaced individuals and questions whether current practices align with social responsibility goals. By suggesting changes to the Olympic hosting model, the coalition seeks to ensure that future events do not lead to similar situations.