Everything is ready in Paris. © APA/afp / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN

Olympic opening on the Seine: A question of security

Closed airspace, tens of thousands of security forces, huge barriers in Paris: The unique Olympic opening ceremony in the middle of the Seine is not only a special spectacle, but also a challenge in terms of security.

July 26, 2024

From: dpa

45.000 police officers and gendarmes are on duty for the opening, which will be attended by more than 100 heads of state and government and representatives. There will also be thousands of soldiers and emergency personnel from several other countries. From 13.00 p.m., the entire Seine will be cordoned off. Numerous metro stations near the riverbank will be closed. Only those who live or are staying in the area or who have a ticket for the ceremony will be allowed into the security area.

In the evening, the airspace around Paris will also be closed – within a radius of 150 kilometers. The sports newspaper The Team According to reports, in such a large area, security forces have ten minutes to react if a suspicious aircraft is spotted. Special jammers are used to protect against drones.

Many high-ranking guests expected

"After the opening ceremony, if everything goes as well as possible, we will talk less about security and more about sport," said France's acting Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. "I'll take care of security, the others will take care of the medals." The athletes' boats will be The Team by dog ​​teams and divers. Sonar devices and special barriers will also provide protection in the water.

The games start on Friday. © ANSA / LAURENT GILLIERON

The ceremony starts at 19.30:23.15 p.m. and is scheduled to last until 94:200 p.m. It starts at the Pont d'Austerlitz and then heads west to the Trocadéro at the Eiffel Tower. The parade passes numerous sights, including the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral. The more than XNUMX delegations will travel on XNUMX boats across the Seine. The route is six kilometers long.

The organizing team promises a huge show. It is still unclear who will perform at the spectacle. Rumors say that Lady Gaga and Céline Dion could be there. Who will light the Olympic flame and where this will happen is also still a secret. Around 300.000 spectators will marvel at the parade directly on the banks of the Seine.