Paris is battling a rat plague. © APA/afp / LOIC VENANCE

Olympia: Paris in the fight against the rat plague

There is great anticipation for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, but the city is struggling with a familiar problem: an estimated 6,5 million rats populate the French metropolis. Now there are growing concerns that the animals could overshadow the event.

July 23, 2024

From: sn

Although Disney's "Ratatouille" gave the furry Parisians a friendlier image, in reality they are unwelcome. As carriers of dangerous diseases, they have been a symbol of misfortune since the plague at the latest. However, they have always been part of the cityscape of Paris.

In order not to tarnish the image of the Games, the Olympic organizers have taken comprehensive measures. All competition venues and event locations were thoroughly checked for rat infestations. "Where there were a lot of rats, we set up traps before the Games," explained Anne-Claire Boux, deputy mayor of Paris, who is responsible for public health.

Focus on prestigious venues

The focus is particularly on the park at the Eiffel Tower, where the beach volleyball stadium was built, and the gardens of the Louvre, where the Olympic flame will burn. These popular picnic spots have also been preferred food sources for the rats. A special task force of rodent control experts has been providing advice to the Olympic Games Organizing Committee. In addition, 7.500 members of the cleaning and collection teams are on duty to ensure that waste is removed.

The authorities are confident that the measures will be successful. "I am not worried at all," stressed Antoine Guillou, deputy mayor for waste management. "On the contrary, the Games will help us to prove once and for all that the idea that you will find a lot of rats in Paris is wrong," reports Sport1.

Paris hopes that the extensive preparations will keep the rats underground and that the 2024 Olympic Games can take place without unwanted animal spectators. The next few weeks will show whether they succeed.