PARIS POISED FOR OLYMPICS

French capital counts down to Summer Games amid high expectations of venues, security challenges

With the Olympic flame lit on Tuesday in ancient Olympia, Greece, the countdown to the Paris Olympic Games hit the 100-day mark, ushering in a period of intense preparation and growing expectations. This year marks a century since Paris last hosted the Olympics, positioning it to become the second city after London to have hosted the Games three times. The historical and current connections are palpable, making the city a living legacy of the Olympics.

“Games Wide Open” is the promise made by Paris — with the opening ceremony set on the Seine river, other famous areas and landmarks transformed into venues, and public-accessible Olympic marathon routes laid out, the naturally romantic French are filling the world with anticipation.

The organizing committee is tackling numerous challenges amid these high expectations, primarily focusing on security and transportation logistics.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris Organizing Committee, have openly addressed these challenges and expressed commitment to overcoming them in time for the Games.

Macron reassured in an interview this week that the security level, especially for the opening ceremony, would be of the highest level.

“If you ask where the safest place in France will be that day, I would say it is right at the opening ceremony,” Macron said.

But Macron also candidly told the public that if the security risks are too high at the time, changing the location of the opening ceremony remains a possibility.

The countdown clock under the Eiffel Tower has already pointed to 100 days. Soon, the Olympic rings will also be installed on the iconic tower.

“Only 100 days left, and we are immensely excited, but we need to be even more cautious,” Estanguet said. “There’s still a lot of work to do, but facing challenges is normal for such a significant comprehensive sports event. What we need to do is face these challenges and find ways to solve them.”

Right: French artist DIMITAR DILKOFF/ AFP Laurent Perbos (second from left) poses with French athletes in front of his sculptures reflecting various sports from the Paris Games at the city’s National Assembly on April 2.

GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP Left: Visitors gather at stairs painted in the colors of the upcoming Paris Olympics in front of the city’s Sacre Coeur Basilica on top of Montmartre hill on Wednesday.

GAO JING / XINHUA Left: Crowds applaud a volunteer holding a torch during a practice run for the Olympic torch relay, in Romilly-sur-Seine, east of Paris, on March 22. to the Paris Olympic Games near the Eiffel Tower on Wednesday.

YOAN VALAT / AP French fencers display their moves at the Grand Palais in Paris on Monday. The iconic venue is set to host this year’s fencing and taekwondo Olympic events.

GAO JING / XINHUA Mascots of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics are presented on Wednesday amid the countdown for the global sporting event in the city.

THIBAULT CAMUS / AP Right: Revelers mark the 100-day countdown