Special anti-terrorism measures are being implemented to ensure the safety of the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics. Paris police chief Laurent Nunez stated that all buildings along the parade route will undergo background security checks. Individuals will be cross-checked against security services’ databases to identify any potential threats, such as suspected Islamist extremists or radical individuals. The high-security zone will be established along the River Seine, where athletes will be paraded on boats through the heart of the French capital on a 6-kilometer stretch.
The security perimeter will include the first row of buildings along the parade route, with individuals needing to pre-register online and undergo background security checks before entering the zone. Those affected include people who work and live inside the perimeter, as well as their guests, and individuals going to hotels or restaurants within the zone. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo estimated that around 20,000 people live and work inside the security perimeter. Precautions will be taken to allow access to the Louvre and other museums along the river without entering the security zone in the days leading up to the ceremony.
Security checks will not involve searching through individuals’ communications but will focus on verifying if the person is known in intelligence files. Anyone flagged by the security checks could be prohibited from entering the zone on a case-by-case basis. Ticket-holders for the opening ceremony will not need to pre-register online, but French intelligence services will conduct checks on them to ensure safety. Additionally, water quality tests in the Seine river will be made public starting from July 1, with samples collected from various spots throughout the river to ensure the safety of marathon swimmers and Olympic triathletes.
The Paris Olympics opening ceremony, scheduled for July 26, poses a significant security challenge due to its ambitious nature and the number of boats and people involved in the parade along the River Seine. In addition to the athletes, 87 other boats will accompany the parade for security, media, and other personnel. The security measures will be implemented to create an anti-terrorism perimeter along the entire parade route, aimed at safeguarding the event and ensuring the safety of all participants and spectators. The security zone will be extended along both banks of the river in the final hours leading up to the ceremony.
The security measures put in place for the Paris Olympics opening ceremony reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing potential threats and ensuring the safety of everyone involved in the event. By conducting background security checks on individuals along the parade route, authorities aim to identify and mitigate any risks posed by suspected extremists or radical individuals. The transparent approach to water quality testing in the Seine river further demonstrates the organizers’ commitment to ensuring the health and safety of athletes participating in aquatic events during the Games. Overall, the strict security protocols and safety measures being implemented underscore the importance of maintaining a secure environment for the highly-anticipated opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
