Since the early 2000s, the Porte de la Chapelle neighbourhood in the northern 18th arrondissement of Paris has been associated with higher crime, drug, and poverty rates compared to the rest of the capital. But with the Paris Olympics, the city has launched an ambitious urban renewal plan and heightened police security to transform the area. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who launched her re-election bid from Porte de la Chapelle in 2020, put the district’s €500 million makeover at the centre of her campaign. As part of the plan, an 8,000-seat arena was built to host badminton and rhythmic gymnasti…
