The Olympic Village in northern Paris officially opened its doors on Thursday, July 18, a day when several hundred athletes are expected to take over the premises eight days before the start of the Games, according to the organizers. The Village, which straddles Saint-Denis, Saint-Ouen and the Île Saint-Denis, and which covers 52 hectares, will welcome nearly 14,500 people, including 9,000 athletes at the height of the Games.