In an unprecedented show of protection, over 45,000 police, 10,000 troops, and 2,000 private security personnel will guard the procession along the Seine, its banks, and the surrounding monuments
Nearly 7,000 athletes will be paraded down the river on barges past some of the most famous locations in Paris, while over 300,000 spectators will watch from the banks.
Since the previous Olympics in Beijing in 2022, wars have broken out in Gaza and Ukraine, creating a perilous environment for the Games. France is at maximum security, despite repeated statements from officials that there is no specific threat to the Games or the opening ceremony.
According to official data, authorities have implemented tight movement restrictions on 155 individuals through the use of powers granted by an anti-terror law, as part of a massive security operation. According to officials, Israeli competitors are receiving round-the-clock security throughout the Olympics and are being escorted to and from events by elite tactical teams.
The opening ceremony in Paris, which will be watched over by snipers on rooftops, is expected to draw in large numbers of world leaders. The riverbed of the Seine has been searched for bombs, and airspace over Paris will be blocked.
Radar-surveillance aircraft and Reaper drones will monitor critical sites from above during the Games in general, and Mirage 2000 fighter jets will be ready to intercept any aircraft that stray into restricted airspace
ALL READY
In a video that he uploaded on X, French President Emmanuel Macron stated, “Everything is ready.” He looked up to the Eiffel tower and stated, “Even the (Olympic) rings are there.” “Enjoy the Games!”
Having secured a reelection two years prior, Macron had anticipated that the Olympics would solidify his reputation.
However, he has been undermined by his losing wager on an early parliamentary election, which is clouding his international debut.
A security zone around the river was established by the police ahead of the opening ceremony, installing metal barriers to isolate neighborhoods and needing authorization—passes with QR codes—to enter. This implies that residents are not very happy about the high level of security.
Because to the restrictions, the normally lively cafes along the banks of the Seine have become extremely quiet.
Macron will be hoping that once the Games begin in earnest, the national mood will improve, as it hasn’t improved much throughout the Olympics.
According to a list released by the IOC on July 20, Moscow’s typically sizable delegation of athletes has been reduced to 15 who have satisfied and accepted the eligibility conditions to compete as neutrals as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
17 athletes from Belarus will compete as neutrals.
With only 140 athletes, Ukraine is fielding the smallest team it has sent since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Floating Parade
The event, which officially kicks off the Paris 2024 Games, will begin at 7:30 p.m. (1530 GMT) and take place in broad daylight. It will pass by several of the well-known monuments in the French city, such as the Pont des Arts bridge and the Louvre museum.
The ceremony’s choreographer, Maud Le Pladec, opens new tab has stated, “We’re going to take advantage of all the historic monuments around the Seine, and there won’t be a single riverbank or bridge that won’t be filled with music, dance, or performance.”
This will be the first opening ceremony that happens somewhere other than a stadium.
Certain information has been withheld, such as which artists will be the last to light the Olympic cauldron and carry the torch to signal the opening of the Games.
The creative team claimed that in order to keep everything secret, they had been practicing in private.
The weather is a major unknown for the outdoor celebration. While clouds are now predicted, the organizers had hoped for a “golden hour”—a sunset that would illuminate buildings—midway through the ceremony.
In the 100 years after the last time the Olympics were held in Paris, around 10,500 athletes are expected to compete. The 329 gold medals were put into circulation on Wednesday, and the first one will be given out on Saturday. August 11 is when the closing ceremony will happen.
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