The French government announced on Tuesday that tourists will not be able to watch the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics for free as initially planned. The decision comes as security concerns loom over the unprecedented open-air event along the Seine River.
Originally, organizers had envisioned a grand opening ceremony on July 26 with up to 600,000 spectators, most of whom would watch for free. However, due to security and logistical challenges, the government has revised its plans.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin revealed that only 222,000 spectators will now have free access to watch the ceremony from the upper embankments overlooking the Seine. Access will no longer be open to the public through online registration as initially intended. Instead, access will be allocated through quotas to select residents of towns hosting Olympic events and others chosen by organizers or their partners.
The decision to limit free access was made in collaboration with local authorities to ensure a diverse attendance while enhancing security measures. An additional 104,000 individuals are expected to watch the river ceremonies from lower embankments with paid tickets.
Despite no specific plot targeting the Olympics being identified, Darmanin highlighted the presence of multiple potential threats, including from Islamic extremist groups, violent environmental activists, ultra-right groups, and cyberattacks from foreign adversaries.
This year's Olympics kickoff will mark the first time an opening ceremony is held outside a stadium setting, aligning with the Paris organizers' motto of “Games Wide Open.” The event will see tens of thousands of police officers and soldiers deployed as athletes parade through the heart of Paris on boats along a 6-kilometer route on the Seine.
For more information on the Paris Olympics, visit AP's coverage.
