The Olympic village, which will house some 15,000 athletes and officials, is being built in the Seine-Saint-Denis area north of Paris, which for years has suffered from social tensions and neglect. But the project is also controversial locally as it will force the relocation of residents, businesses and even schools in the area where the village is to be constructed. READ ALSO 'Lisa Simpson or an emoji' - Paris Olympic logo sparks (affectionate) ridiculePrime Minister Edouard Philippe and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo at the launch. Responding to the criticism, Solideo, the public company overseeing all the works, insisted the local area would get a boost. The French authorities have long expressed concern over the stark disparities in the Paris area, with wealthy citizens concentrated in the centre but northern areas far less well-off.

Source: The Local November 04, 2019 14:37 UTC