Enhanced Security Measures for Paris 2024 Olympics
The French government is taking unprecedented measures to ensure the security of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Between 12,000 and 14,000 soldiers from the provinces will be stationed in Île-de-France, distributed across 91 sites including barracks, hotels, and educational institutions. These forces will include mobile and departmental gendarmes, as well as reservists. Their deployment is scheduled until August 12, the day after the last Olympic event, and will be reactivated from August 28 to September 8 for the Paralympic Games.
Under the direction of the Île-de-France gendarmerie command, these soldiers will have five primary missions: ensuring security in public transport systems, safeguarding tourist areas and Olympic venues, protecting the 22 Olympic sites, managing road traffic, and escorting convoys of athletes, authorities, and emergency services. However, no provincial reinforcements will be provided for the dog teams specializing in explosives; the 23 teams mobilized will operate from their bases within Île-de-France.
Changes to Bastille Day Celebrations Amid Olympic Preparations
In a related development, the traditional July 14 Bastille Day parade will undergo significant changes due to the proximity of the Olympic Games. This year, the parade will not take place on the Champs-Élysées but will instead be held between Place Charles-de-Gaulle and Avenue Foch. The ceremony will open with helicopters, followed by units from the three armies, and conclude with a dynamic sequence featuring planes and the Patrouille de France.
This year's Bastille Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of France and the connection between the military and Olympism, will offer an unprecedented level of intimacy with the public. The separation of forces in front of the presidential stand will also see changes, reflecting the unique context of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.
