PARIS — France has reduced the scale of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony, set to take place in July on the River Seine, due to concerns about a potential Islamist terror attack.
Boats carrying flag-bearers from each nation will float down the river in central Paris, with 104,000 spectators enjoying the festivities on the waterfront while another 222,000 watch from bridges and streets, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced during a Parliament hearing on Tuesday.
This marks a significant decrease from the initial plan discussed by Darmanin in October 2022, which considered welcoming up to 600,000 people for the official launch of the Summer Games.
A high-ranking official at the interior ministry, speaking anonymously to share sensitive information, revealed that French President Emmanuel Macron requested the reduction in capacity due to concerns about crowd control and security. This decision comes as the opening ceremony will be held in a public space instead of a stadium for the first time ever.
While French intelligence services have not identified any specific plans for terror attacks targeting the Games, the official emphasized that the primary threat is from Islamist terrorism.
The ministry has identified external groups targeting France, such as al Qaeda and ISIS, but noted that they currently lack the financial means to carry out attacks. Tickets for access to the waterfront during the ceremony have been put on sale by the Paris 2024 Games organizers, with some priced at thousands of euros. Cheaper tickets, originally intended for the general public, will now be distributed for free by the Games’ partners to individuals from other French host cities and public institutions.
To ensure security, access to the ceremony’s security perimeter, covering a significant portion of central Paris, will be restricted days before the event. Only ticket-holders and individuals living or working in the area will receive QR codes to enter the perimeter.
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