The challenge is accompanied by a commitment, that of fulfilling the specifications without betraying the promise of "popular" games that leave a "legacy".
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Ceremony on the Seine: always agitated
For the first time in Olympic history, the opening ceremony will not take place in a closed enclosure, but on the Seine, with a parade of delegations on boats sailing at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and the Concorde.
This very ambitious parade, much more complicated to secure, is progressing "cahin-caha" in particular on the management of spectators, according to a government source.
All against a backdrop of tension between municipal and government authorities, even if the arrival of a new Paris police chief has "fluidified the dialogue".
It is sometimes "tense" with the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo (PS), who is holding a popular party on July 26, 2024, according to this source.
Of the 600,000 lucky ones, 100,000 will pay to settle at the bottom of the river, the others will be able to admire the spectacle for free from the top of the banks of the Seine.
This number could however be revised downwards, according to political sources, as well as the number of boats transporting the delegations, which would be reduced to a hundred.
Paris 2024: the sites of the Olympic Games © Paz PIZARRO / AFP
Will it be necessary to resort to the army when private security companies, which are unable to recruit, are not scrambling to respond to calls for tenders?
“Too early to tell,” according to Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.
"All the scenarios are on the table," said Etienne Thobois, general manager of the Paris Olympics organizing committee (Cojo).
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Will there be Russians in Paris?
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) opened the door in January to the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes, under a neutral flag.
A coalition of around thirty countries, hostile to such a return, asked for "clarifications" as the qualifying period began.
Russian Elena Ivanova happy with her victory in the 100m at the Paralympic Games in London, September 8, 2012 © IAN KINGTON / AFP/Archives
A ping-pong is in motion: the IOC returns the ball to the international federations, which return the ball to the IOC while the Cojo returns to the IOC... The debate risks extending for months.
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"Extreme vigilance" on transport
Transport chaos during the Games: this is undoubtedly another of the nightmares of the State and the organizers.
Will the extension of line 14, which must serve the Olympic village, be completed?
Will the Ile-de-France transport system, which has been dysfunctional for several months, be put back on track?
Will the airports be able to handle the millions of visitors?
Will the necessary adaptations to the mobility of people with disabilities be satisfactory?
Will there be strikes, which many foreigners consider a French specialty?
The State has placed the subject at the top of the pile and the Court of Auditors recommends "extreme vigilance".
New boss of the RATP, the Paris transport authority, the former Prime Minister Jean Castex has the Olympics well in mind.
Aerial view of the Porte Maillot metro station construction site on February 13, 2023 © Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / POOL/AFP/Archives
Shortage of bus drivers and opening up to competition from buses by 2025 make the social climate complicated, against the backdrop of a political showdown between the government and the LR president of the Ile-de-France region, who manages part of the transport involved.
RATP plans to recruit 6,600 people, including 4,900 on a permanent basis.
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Turn off the grumbling over ticket prices
The first ticketing phase turned into a bad buzz.
Ticket prices higher than expected, cheap tickets quickly gone, obligation to compose packs with "small sports",...
The president of the Paris Games organizing committee Tony Estanguet, August 30, 2022 in Saint-Ouen, north of Paris © Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP/Archives
The organizers repeat that the prices are not more expensive than in London - difficult comparison due to inflation, different volumes and ticketing phases - but the discontent is struggling to die down.
Many dissatisfied people thus mock the Olympics displayed as "popular" and "accessible".
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The issue of air conditioning in the village
For Solideo (Olympic works delivery company), responsible for building permanent works, 2023 is the year of landing.
It will be necessary to finish the construction site of the village in time for the organizing committee to take the keys in the spring of 2024 and fit out the athletes' rooms.
Built without air conditioning but with a guarantee of a differential of 6 degrees with respect to the outside temperature in the event of strong heat, the village could well accommodate mobile air conditioning units in some of its rooms.
Delegations have the right to equip their rooms with these devices, an option that does not please the mayor of Paris: "There will be no need for it."
The model of the Olympic village of Saint-Ouen, November 22, 2019 © STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP/Archives
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Pay attention to the budget!
Watch out for inheritance!
The budget of the organizing committee (96% of private origin) increased by 10% to 4.4 billion euros at the end of 2022. The State and the communities added 111 million euros.
With Solideo (4.4 billion including 1.711 billion public money), the budget is a total of 8.8 billion euros.
But not everything is included yet.
As for the “legacy”, notably promised to Seine-Saint-Denis, the poorest department in France, it is under the surveillance of elected officials.
"Once the flame is extinguished, it is not Anne Hidalgo, Emmanuel Macron and Tony Estanguet that the inhabitants will hold to account, it is me", has the habit of saying Stéphane Trousssel (PS), the president on department.
© 2023 AFP