Paris hopes security won't spoil the party at 2024 Olympics opening

– As Paris makes final preparations for the Summer Olympics, the grand opening ceremony along the river Seine on Friday has created an unprecedented security challenge that organisers hope won’t dampen the party vibe.
For the first time, a Games opening ceremony will not take place in a stadium. Instead, dozens of boats will carry thousands of athletes and performers on a 6-km (3.7-mile) floating parade down the Seine, showcasing the beauty and history of the French capital.

More than 300,000 people are expected to line both banks of the river to watch the ceremony – along with 45,000 police, including members of France’s elite special intervention forces trained in counterterrorism.

Snipers will be deployed on the top of buildings along the route and an anti-drone system will be in place.

“There’s a balance to be found between top security, which is absolutely the priority,” Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organising committee, told a press conference on Sunday.

Paris 2024 Olympics – Paris, France – July 21, 2024 A police officer and a sniffer dog inspect a swimming pool area ahead of the Olympics REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

“It’s part of the objective to guarantee the security and to propose a fantastic celebration of the Games… But to have this kind of unique celebration, you also need to have a very, very strong security plan. And that’s the case.”
The ceremony, which will start at 7:30 p.m. local time(1730 GMT), will be “a large fresco” celebrating Paris, France and the Games and will interweave the traditional parade by athletes with artistic performances and elements of protocol, said Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/paris-hopes-security-wont-spoil-party-2024-olympics-opening-2024-07-21/