The knife attack which left one dead and two injured last week near the Eiffel Tower has reopened the debate on the security of the Olympic Games which are to be held in Paris next year.
Paris is about to host the 2024 Olympic Games, a global event. However, concern persists about France’s ability to provide security, especially in light of its past marked by terrorist attacks.
Euronews contacted the Paris police headquarters for information.
The prefecture told us that between 30,000 to 45,000 police, gendarmes and soldiers will be deployed to guarantee security during the Games. Checks and searches will be carried out on spectators, particularly during the opening ceremony.
Despite these measures, the police headquarters emphasizes that the terrorist threat remains very high.
The security of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, scheduled on the Seine, raises important questions. The parade of foreign delegations between the Pont d’Austerlitz and the Pont d’Iéna, to inaugurate the Games, in front of heads of state gathered near the Trocadéro and hundreds of thousands of spectators, represents a colossal security challenge.
Already at the end of October, the former Minister of Sports, David Douillet, had expressed his reservations: “ If the day before, the attack risk indicators are at their maximum, it will be necessary to consider a plan B for the opening ceremony “. However, the authorities rule out any travel, emphasizing the security measures that will be implemented.
We collected opinions from residents of the capital to understand their perspective on the situation.
Opinion is divided. While some express confidence in security measures, others highlight a feeling of exclusion in preparations and concerns about the impact of the Olympics on daily life in Paris. As the event approaches, the balance between citizen safety and comfort remains a central concern.
“I think that the authorities responsible for ensuring security are doing the necessary work to prevent any incident. And I have confidence,” comments Isabelle. “Although it is a very difficult, complicated task, especially because the opening ceremony will be for the first time in the world – in my opinion – on the river.”
“The Olympics may be a target, but I think most precautions will be taken. The main risks would be more petty crimes, like pickpocketing.”Florent reacts.
Some Parisians denounce their exclusion from the decision-making processes and the organization of the Olympic Games.“My feeling is not insecurity. My feeling is that I do not feel included in these preparations. I have never been asked my opinion regarding traffic, lane closures, closures for pedestrians…”, says an indignant citizen of Russian origin who has lived in the capital for more than ten years. _”I have friends who are planning to leave Paris, but I don’t understand this kind of relationship. The Olympic Games are not for us, the citizens of Paris, to lose their city”,_adds -She.
“We must try to rationalize a little bit what is happening and get away from the insecure delirium which does not exist and is not corroborated by the facts”exclaims another resident. “On the other hand, what would have been good is to have popular Olympic Games and not just for the rich. It would have been good for Paris. Because there, obviously, we are really talking about Olympic Games for the rich.” .
The residents we interviewed all seem to agree on one point: there will be very few Parisians present in the capital during the Olympic Games.
“During the Olympics, there will be more security than on a daily basis, so I think it will go much better and I think that there won’t be many Parisians in Paris anyway during the Olympics. So it will be a different population, it will be tourists who will be happy to be there”explains Virginie.