France is set to dazzle the world on Friday with an extravagant Olympics opening ceremony through the heart of Paris, marking the official start of a Games laden with security challenges amid heightened geopolitical tensions. The event will see 45,000 police officers, 10,000 soldiers, and 2,000 private security staff ensuring the safety of the parade along the river Seine, its banks, and surrounding monuments in an unprecedented security display.
Nearly 7,000 athletes will participate in a procession of barges along the river, passing by Paris’s most iconic landmarks, with over 300,000 spectators expected to watch from the banks. Since the last Olympics in Beijing in 2022, the world has witnessed the eruption of wars in Ukraine and Gaza, adding a layer of tension to the Games. Although France is at its highest security level, officials have consistently stated that there is no specific threat to the opening ceremony or the Games.
As part of a vast security operation, authorities have invoked powers from an anti-terror law, placing 155 individuals under surveillance measures that significantly restrict their movements. Israeli competitors are receiving around-the-clock protection from elite tactical units, who escort them to and from events.
Scores of world leaders will attend the opening ceremony, protected by snipers stationed on rooftops. The Seine’s riverbed has been searched for bombs, and Paris’s airspace will be closed for the event. Throughout the Games, radar-surveillance planes and Reaper drones will monitor sensitive sites from above, while Mirage 2000 fighter jets will be on standby to intercept any aircraft that stray into restricted airspace.
“Everything is ready,” French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a video posted on X, with the Olympics rings visible behind him near the Eiffel Tower. “Enjoy the Games!” Macron, who secured a second term two years ago, had hoped the Olympics would solidify his legacy. However, his failed gamble on a snap legislative election has weakened his position, casting a shadow over his moment on the international stage.
Melissa Enoch
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