The opening ceremony on the Seine is unprecedented, and the security of the Paris Olympics is even m

Mondo Sports Updated on 2024-03-07

The official poster of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris was unveiled at the Musée d'Orsay on 4 March.

Paris 2024 is scheduled to take place from 26 July to 11 August, and unlike previous editions, this year's Games will host the Opening Ceremony for the first time outside the stadium and on the world-famous Seine. But at the same time, the security of the Olympic Games is still a source of slackening for the French security services.

180 boats sailed 6 km along the river.

According to the information previously released by the Paris Olympic Organizing Committee, at the opening ceremony, tens of thousands of athletes will enter by boat through the Seine. Imagine such a group of boats on a night tour, and it's a grand occasion like never before. France** is also proud of the opening ceremony, which is about to be presented for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games.

On March 5, French Interior Minister Darmanin presented the ticket package for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics at a hearing in the Senate (upper house of parliament). He said, 3260,000 people will be on the banks of the Seine** for the opening ceremony, of which nearly seventy percent (about 2220,000 people) is free by invitation**. The Associated Press, citing the French Ministry of the Interior**, reported that free tickets will be allocated according to the quota for residents of the host of the event, local sports associations, and relevant organizers and partners. Invitees are subject to security checks and access to ***.

**, who is in charge of the security of the Paris region, said at a hearing on the 5th that at the opening ceremony, 180 boats will sail about 6 kilometers along the Seine, of which 94 will carry athletes. According to the Associated Press, about 10,500 athletes will cruise through the heart of Paris on these 94 boats. The boat ride starts at the Austerlitz Bridge, passing by Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, the Grand Palais and other famous sights, and ends at the Jena Bridge, near the Eiffel Tower.

According to the Paris Olympic Organizing Committee, the 6-kilometer-long Seine River and the area along the route will be used as the opening ceremony site, the 6-kilometer waterway also brings infinite possibilities to the opening ceremony's cultural performances, hanging art, water screen projection, floating symphony and other ideas are considered.

The airspace is closed within a radius of 150 km.

Along with the wonderful theatrical performances is the vigilant security work. Interior Minister Darmanin also announced some security details of the opening ceremony on the 5th: the area within a 150-kilometer radius around Paris will close all airports and airspace from 7 p.m. to midnight on the night of the opening ceremony. At that time, the operations of Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Le Bourget and Beauvais airports around Paris will be affected.

In addition, the French security services have begun screening about 1 million people, including athletes, journalists, private security guards and those living near critical infrastructure. The banks of the Seine are lined with buildings, and these places are full of hidden dangers. Darmanin estimates that in addition to ticket holders, 200,000 people are expected to enjoy the opening ceremony on the day along the river and on buildings overlooking the Seine, and another 50,000 in the "fan district" in Paris**

In particular, Darmanin mentioned that, according to the information gathered so far, there was no specific terrorist threat from the Paris Olympics.

According to the Associated Press, in December, France's Macron said that the opening ceremony of the grand Olympic Games planned by Paris on the Seine could be canceled if it was attacked by extremists during preparations. "With 15 days to go until the Olympics, you got a series of terrorist attacks," he said. What should you do? Oh, you won't organize (rituals) on the Seine. Because we're professionals, obviously there will be Plan B, Plan C, and so on. ”

Darmanin's statement at the hearing that he has not yet been threatened by specific terrorism may give more confidence to the outside world, as Macron's plans B and C are not yet useful, but just a week ago, the security of the Olympics was surprisingly unexpected.

According to an AFP report, sources said on Tuesday that a school bag containing a computer and two USB sticks was stolen from a train in Gare du Nord on Monday night. It is reported that the relevant equipment stores the security plan for the Paris Olympic Games. ** Confirmed contents, the bag belonged to an engineer at the Paris City Hall.

The Paris Olympic Committee declined to comment. With just over four months to go until the Olympics, the most unshakable thing at this time is morale and confidence. Hopefully, they will circumvent all security vulnerabilities in the final impact stage and deliver a wonderful and safe Olympics to the world.

Author: Gu Wenjun.

Text: Gu Wenjun: Xinhua News Agency Editor: Shen Qinhan Responsible Editor: Liu Chang.

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