Paris is gearing up for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games this Friday, with a gala celebration that is set to dazzle on the Seine, marking the first time the Summer Olympics have kicked off outside a stadium. However, such a grand display requires an equally grand security operation to ensure everything runs smoothly.
The scale of the security effort for the Paris Olympics 2024 is nothing short of colossal.
Over 45,000 police and paramilitary officers will be on duty, backed-up by 10,000 soldiers and 20,000 private security guards.
The security area stretches over six kilometres along the Seine, accommodating around 300,000 ticketed spectators and countless more residents and tourists in nearby buildings.
To add an extra layer of protection, a no-fly zone spanning 150 kilometres around Paris will be brought into force an hour before the ceremony begins at 7:30pm local time (17h30UT).
This will ground or divert all aviation in one of Europe's busiest airport hubs.
'High alert'
"This opening ceremony is the most extraordinary thing a country can do," Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told BFM television.
He has emphasised the challenges of securing such a high-profile event in the current geopolitical and terrorist climate.
Securing an open-air site with fast-flowing water, overlooked by hundreds of buildings, is no small feat.
France remains on high alert for terror attacks, making the task even more daunting.
"Security of 100 percent does not exist," noted Frederic Pechenard, a former head of the French police force, highlighting the inherent risks of such a complex operation.
Snipers will be positioned on rooftops along the route, ever-watchful for potential threats.
The water will be patrolled by navy boats equipped with divers and sonar to detect explosives or infiltration attempts.
Every boat in the parade, and those moored along the route, will be rigorously inspected by sniffer dogs and bomb disposal experts.
River traffic will be halted in both directions, with barriers and nets ready to be deployed if necessary.
The ambitious Seine parade concept initially faced resistance from senior security officials and was even dubbed "criminal madness" by criminologist Alain Bauer in 2022.
Originally planning for up to a million spectators, the plans have since been scaled back due to increased risks from global conflicts and domestic tensions.
'Fortress Paris'
Since last week, central Paris has transformed into a fortress, with metal barriers sealing off both banks of the Seine. Only residents and hotel guests are allowed into the high-security zone.
The French army will oversee anti-drone operations, employing the latest electronic warfare technology to counter potential threats from the sky.
Drones operated by security forces, along with AI-augmented cameras, will monitor the crowds for suspicious activity.
France's vigilance is understandable given its history of terrorist attacks over the past decade, including the Charlie Hebdo shooting, the Bataclan concert hall attack, and the bombing at the national stadium.
Recent threats from IS-affiliated groups and arrests of suspects plotting attacks against the Games have heightened security concerns.
Despite these challenges, confidence in the French security forces remains high. Jean-Michel Fauvergue, former head of the police commando unit RAID, recalled the successful security efforts during the Euro 2016 football tournament.
"The threat was high, but the Euros were maintained, and we didn't have an attack," he said.
As the world watches on, Paris is set to deliver a spectacular and secure Olympic opening ceremony, showcasing the city's resilience and dedication to safety throughout the celebrations.
