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| View of Olympic Village from Olympic Canal |
The Olympic Village will be on 45 hectares within walking distance of the Olympic Stadium and 7 competition venues and ten
minutes by a high speed rail service from the sights and sounds of the City Zone, as well as being the heart of the Olympic
Park. It will be adjacent to the Olympic Canal which will run through the village itself adding aesthetic appeal to the apartments
as well as commercial value post games. Every competitor irrespective of the location of their event will have a bed reserved
in the Olympic Village. The Village land itself is not too compact but neither too large, allowing for spacious accommodation
in four to six storey apartment buildings, able to house 16,000 athletes and NOC team officials in 16,800 beds, and with space
and capacity to add more if need be, while maintaining the quality of living conditions for every individual.
The 80,000 seat Olympic Stadium would be constructed within walking distance of the Olympic Village and in the midst of
most sports venues, and ample routes separate from spectator routes will be designated for competitors allowing safe, convenient
and unobstructed journey's to the various venues. The Olympic Village will include an internal non-polluting transportation
system which will extend along the athlete routes ensuring competitors arrive refreshed and on time. The vast majority of
competitors ( 80% of Olympic Athletes and 90% of Paralympic athletes) will be within 20 minutes of their venues.
The Village has been designed "by athletes for athletes" drawing on the wealth of knowledge and experience of
individuals who have lived, worked or managed an Olympic Village, ensuring that standards are exceeded and that all athletes
are more than satisfied. Athletes will reside in a joyous yet peaceful and secure environment providing the best conditions
for athletes to reach their peak performances. Restaurants, services, welcome areas, leisure and training zones will be very
well located, ensuring athletes quick, easy and safe access to all of them. The same applies to all other services and amenities
required by athletes at any time of the day. The Olympic and Paralympic Village will be one and the same, allowing for full
access to athletes in wheelchairs and at the same instance constructing the village to suit each paralympian, providing special
attention where circumstances are extreme.
There will be no negotiating regarding the quality of living conditions provided to Paralympians and the Village in itself
will address these needs. The design and layout of Olympic apartments and services will ensure a swift and efficient change
from Olympic to Paralympic mode. At the core of the development of the Olympic Village is sustainability which allows to provide
for a great legacy for all. Closer work will be needed with Environmental experts to assure that the land and area is not
heavily impacted and ensuring that emission of carbon and other ozone decaying items are not a factor.
Looking beyond the Games, the Olympic Village will become a symbol of Cape Town's pledge to continue its pursuit to rectify
any existing housing shortages and improving the lives of its communities at the same time. More than half of the apartments
will be made available at reduced prices to accommodate specifically lower-middle income families who would not usually be
able to afford such high standards of accommodation elsewhere in Cape Town.
The centrally located Polyclinic will remain as a health centre for the surrounding apartments and communities, where
as the buildings which house the administration offices and supporting facilities will be converted into a sustainable educational
and cultural legacy ; with nursery, primary, secondary schools and a lifelong learning centre to serve the needs of the local
community. Plans are also in place to construct a museum which will highlight the history of the land and its purpose during
World War II as well as its role to greatly improve and develop the lives the people of Cape Town. The large Village Dining
Area itself will be slightly modified and relocated to a nearby secondary school to serve as a multi-purpose sports and cultural
centre. The remaining areas of the international zone will be integrated into the new Olympic Park community of offices, homes
and sports facilities ensuring vital services and entertainment is provided to the new community. This is a key factor and
vision of the Olympic Games Committee and the City of Cape Town in ensuring a well rounded, safe, environmentally aware and
diverse local community is created as an inspiration to produce and initiate greater development across other areas of Cape
Town.
The Olympic Village in Cape Town in 2016 is where the worlds greatest athletes will live in peaceful society, safely and
comfortably, in accordance with the Olympic Ideals of a truly cultural and sporting celebration.
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