"When it's something repetitive, they can debrief, make improvements, work out what works. The French police "have never worked on a scenario like this," a senior security source told AFP, again on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. But we'll manage it, we'll be ready."Īs the Games loom into view, the number of boats, the arrangements for spectators, and the means of controlling crowds and guarding against a terror attack or accident are still the subject of intense discussions. "A ceremony like this has never taken place before. "Everyone is working and working an enormous amount," one senior French official involved in the process told AFP on condition of anonymity. Turning it into reality is said to be giving planners cold sweats. “We will do everything we can to be ready in time,” Macron’s former prime minister Jean Castex, now in charge of the RATP transport operator, told reporters last week, promising a massive recruitment drive.The appeal of such a bold statement of French ambition and art de vivre to a global TV audience of hundreds of millions is clear. There are serious questions about whether the extension of a key metro line to the Athletes' Village will be completed in time for the Games and a major shortfall in the number of bus drivers is causing concerns too. Like the football final, much of the Olympics will take place in the Seine-Saint-Denis département northeast of Paris, the poorest in metropolitan France and the most densely populated after Paris, known for its creaking transport infrastructure. In another recruitment headache, the Paris region’s transport system is scrambling to bounce back from a year of chronic staff shortages and sporadic strikes – one of which precipitated the chaos of the Champions League final. On Tuesday, Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra said there would be “no taboo” on drafting in the army if necessary, as was the case at the 2012 Olympics in London. However, the low bids being offered by the organising committee mean many private security companies are struggling to recruit staff, another source close to the event told AFP. The interior ministry has also suggested 25,000 private security agents should be used for less critical missions, with thousands currently being screened, recruited and trained. Transport woesįor the opening ceremony, Darmanin is counting on 35,000 members of the security forces being on duty, with police already warned that requests for leave over the summer holiday period will not be permitted. While there, he warned of the dangers of “a drone loaded with explosives that falls on a crowd, on an exposed team, on an opening ceremony like at the Olympic Games, for example". Sceptics point to the chaotic scenes at last year's Champions League final in Paris, when Liverpool fans found themselves in a crush outside the stadium, as a reminder of the dangers of badly organised sporting events.įrench Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who faced severe criticism for his handling of the Champions League fiasco, travelled to the World Cup in Qatar in November last year on a fact-finding mission. Some security experts have voiced concerns, however, warning about the dangers of uncontrolled crowd movements close to the water, and the challenges of securing such a long stretch of water with overlooking buildings. “A ceremony like this has never taken place before. “Everyone is working flat-out on preparations,” one senior French official involved in the process told AFP on condition of anonymity. A first practice run is expected in July this year, with 30 to 40 boats set to participate. Turning it into reality is said to be giving planners cold sweats.Īs the Games loom into view, the number of boats, the arrangements for spectators, crowd control and security measures are still the subject of intense discussions. The appeal of projecting such a bold statement of French ambition before a global TV audience of hundreds of millions is clear. The vision, outlined by Macron, is for sporting delegations to sail down the Seine in an armada of boats, in view of up to 600,000 spectators lining the river’s banks over a six-kilometre stretch. In perhaps the biggest gamble of Paris 2024, organisers plan to take the opening ceremony out of its traditional stadium setting and stage it on water. The city’s famed waterway is the focus of another mammoth challenge for organisers of the 33 rd Summer Olympiad, one that is bound to give French officials many a sleepless night over the coming 500 days.
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