Secretariat, Taipei City Government

Taipei City Mayor Wan-An Chiang began his municipal visit to Paris, France, with a stop at the Adidas Arena, accompanied by Deputy Mayor of Paris Arnaud Ngatcha and Taiwan’s Ambassador to France Pei-chih Hao. The delegation was received by Mario Gonzalez, Deputy Mayor of Paris’s 18th arrondissement, who provided an introduction to the facility. This facility was constructed as an official competition venue for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and is known as the site where badminton athletes Yang Lee and Chi-Lin Wang won their Olympic gold medal. Mayor Chiang stated that he hoped to arrange additional visits to the venue by Taipei City Government officials in the future, using this experience as a reference for developing Taipei’s policies regarding international badminton facilities and multifunctional sports venues.

Upon arriving at the site, Mayor Chiang and his delegation were warmly welcomed by Deputy Mayor Ngatcha, who expressed his pleasure at reuniting with Chiang following their earlier encounter at the SusHiTech Summit in Tokyo last year. Deputy Mayor Gonzalez provided a detailed introduction to the Adidas Arena, which is equipped with 9,000 spectator seats and features an energy-efficient air conditioning system that employs geothermal energy to regulate indoor temperature. In addition to serving the venue itself, the system supplies energy to the surrounding communities and commercial facilities. The arena’s design implements the concept of environmental sustainability throughout. The flooring is constructed from timber certified under the European Union’s sustainable forest standards, and approximately 70 metric tons of recycled plastic bottle caps were used to manufacture all seating, underscoring the facility’s commitment to resource reuse and sustainability. Furthermore, the arena features a Sensory Room designed to accommodate individuals with sensory impairments or anxiety disorders by offering a space for emotional regulation, exemplifying inclusive design for diverse user groups.

Two auxiliary facilities are located adjacent to the main arena, designated respectively as a multifunctional sports court and a basketball court. Each is equipped with its own independent entrance and exit, facilitating effective crowd control during large-scale events. Deputy Mayor Gonzalez explained that because of the surrounding area’s concentration of social housing and economically disadvantaged residents, the arena is not solely used for sporting events; it is also open to local residents during nonevent periods. This approach embodies the principle of shared municipal infrastructure and community access.

Mayor Chiang noted that Taipei City is currently planning the construction of a badminton arena constructed to international competition standards. The first floor is designed to include 10 courts designated for practice and warm-up, and the second floor is expected to house 5 competition courts and 2 warm-up courts, with a total seating capacity of 6,000 to meet international competition standards. He emphasized that the future facility in Taipei will serve as a venue for competitions and as a multipurpose sports complex. Drawing on the experience of the Adidas Arena, Mayor Chiang hopes to enhance the flexibility and functionality of the space to accommodate diverse uses. Mayor Chiang instructed the Taipei City Government to maintain active engagement with its counterparts in Paris to gain a deeper understanding of their comprehensive planning and operational models, which will serve as a crucial reference for Taipei’s future development.

In addition to the visiting the arena, Mayor Chiang engaged in in-depth discussions with Deputy Mayor Gonzalez regarding the local social housing system. Since 2001, the City of Paris has actively promoted social housing policies, increasing the citywide percentage of such housing from 12% to 25%, with the 18th arrondissement increasing the percentage of social housing from 11% to 26% during this period. France’s social housing system is structured according to income tiers, serving not only low-income households but also the middle class. These housing units are constructed to standards equal to or exceeding those of private residences to ensure the quality of living environments. The application process employs an anonymous numbering system whereby a distribution committee evaluates and reviews applications on the basis of income, family circumstances, and other criteria.

Deputy Mayor Gonzalez noted that approximately 280,000 individuals are currently registered on the social housing waitlist in Paris, with 17,000 of those residing in the 18th arrondissement. However, only approximately 200 units become available each year, rendering the disparity between supply and demand a persistent challenge. In response, Mayor Chiang shared that Taipei City’s current social housing allocation system is based on a lottery mechanism. He emphasized that the quality of Taipei’s newly constructed social housing is on par with that of private residences. He also extended a sincere invitation to the Paris municipal team to visit Taipei for further exchange and collaboration. Deputy Mayor Gonzalez expressed his anticipation for increased interaction and cooperation in the future.