Paris hopes security won’t spoil the party

PARIS - As Paris makes Ɲnal preparations for the Summer Olympics, the grand opening ceremony along the river Seine on Friday has created an unprecedented security challenge that organisers hope won’t dampen the party vibe.

For the Ɲrst time, a Games opening ceremony will not take place in a stadium. Instead, dozens of boats will carry thousands of athletes and performers on a 6-km (3.7-mile) ƞoating parade down the Seine, showcasing the beauty and history of the French capital.

About 300,000 people are expected to line both banks of the river to watch the ceremony — along with 45,000 police, including members of France’s elite special intervention forces trained in counterterrorism. Snipers will be deployed on the top of buildings along the route and an anti-drone system will be in place.

“There’s a balance to be found between top security, which is absolutely the priority,” Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organising committee, told a press conference yesterday.

“It’s part of the objective to guarantee the security and to propose a fantastic celebration of the Games... But to have this kind of unique celebration, you also need to have a very, very strong security plan. And that’s the case.”

The ceremony, which will start at 7.30pm local time, will be “a large fresco” celebrating Paris, France and the Games and will interweave the traditional parade by athletes with artistic performances and elements of protocol, said Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony.