The number of opening ceremony spectators is still undefined
The exact number of spectators who will be able to attend the first-ever outdoor opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games next year remains unclear. France’s Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, mentioned the possibility of “hundreds of thousands of people” being able to attend when asked about it.
The opening ceremony, scheduled for July 26, 2024, will last three hours and begin at 8:24 pm local time. Tony Estanguet, the president of Paris 2024, confirmed these details in a press conference where a security protocol was signed by the French government, the organizing committee, and the mayor of Paris.
Over 10,000 athletes will be transported on 116 boats along a six-kilometer route from Pont d’Austerlitz to Pont d’Iena, with famous landmarks such as Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower serving as a backdrop.
Around 100,000 tickets will be sold for exclusive riverside positions, priced up to 2,700 euros. Those who prefer to watch the ceremony for free will need to pre-register for tickets.
The initial expectation was to have a total of 600,000 places available, but the figure was later reduced to “less than 500,000” due to transportation capacity concerns raised by Valerie Pecresse, the public transportation chief of the Ile-de France region. Various sources have mentioned figures ranging from 400,000 to around 500,000.
Minister Darmanin’s statement on spectator numbers was vague, referring to “hundreds of thousands” of people watching the show from the high quays. The exact figure is yet to be determined.
Regarding security, 37,000 security personnel will be deployed, including 2,000-3,000 private security agents specifically for the opening ceremony. Police personnel will have their personal leave canceled for the duration of the Games, which will take place from July 26 to August 11.
Darmanin emphasized that drones were considered the biggest security threat, but air defense technology will be trialed later in the year during the Rugby World Cup in France to mitigate this risk.
He acknowledged that preparing for drone threats is challenging but stated that measures are being taken to address them.
