Paris ready to host summer Olympic Games for the 3rd Time

Team Udayavani, Jul 22, 2024, 9:08 AM IST

For the third time in modern history, Paris, the capital of France, is set to host the Summer Olympics. Including the Winter Olympics, France will be hosting the Olympics for the sixth time. The last time France hosted the Summer Olympics was in 1924, exactly 100 years ago.

Here are some interesting details of France’s preparations for the world’s biggest sports event:

Olympic Rings Everywhere

The iconic Olympic rings are visible throughout France, especially in Paris. Rings have been hung from tall buildings. The view of the Olympic Village is magnificent. A 6 km route has been blocked for the opening ceremony. Traffic has already been reduced on major surrounding roads.

Opening Ceremony on a River

This time, the Olympic opening ceremony will be unique. For the first time in the history of the Olympics, the opening ceremony will take place on a river.

The event will be held on the Seine River in the heart of Paris. The entire river will be transformed into a stage. Athletes will march in boats equipped with cameras for live TV broadcasts.

Heavy Police Presence in Paris

Given the recent unrest in countries like Israel and Iran and the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine, security is a priority. Paris experienced ethnic conflicts a few months ago. Therefore, 45,000 police officers have been deployed in Paris for security.

The opening ceremony will be secured by 35,000 intelligence officers and soldiers. France is prepared for any situation, including potential drone attacks, with assistance from foreign security forces.

Centennial Celebration

Paris last hosted the Olympics 100 years ago. The opening ceremony of that event took place on July 5, 1924. The city is now celebrating the centenary as it prepares to host the games again.

Third Time Hosting for Paris

Paris will host the Summer Olympics for the third time. Including the Winter Olympics, it will be the sixth time France has hosted the event.

Previously, Paris successfully hosted the games in 1900 and 1924. Therefore, the city has all the necessary arrangements for hosting.

96% of Funding from Private Sector

As much as 96% of the funds for the Paris Olympics will come from the private sector. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), partner companies, ticket sales, and licensing companies will provide the funding.

₹68,000 Crore: Sixth Highest Spending City

Paris will spend ₹68,540 crore (US $8.2 billion) to organize the Olympics. This is the sixth-highest expenditure in Olympic history. The highest so far is the ₹2 lakh crore (US $25 billion) spent on the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

AI Touch to Olympics

Artificial Intelligence will play a significant role in the Paris Olympics. It will monitor sports like swimming, running, and surfing, and also take care of the city’s security. AI’s efficiency surpasses human capabilities, allowing for immediate response to situations.

How Paris Won the Bid

Six cities competed to host the 2024 Olympics: Paris (France), Hamburg (Germany), Boston and Los Angeles (USA), Budapest (Hungary), and Rome (Italy). One by one, cities withdrew from the competition. In the end, only Paris and Los Angeles remained.

Discussions ensued about which city should host the games. It was decided to announce the host cities for both the 2024 and 2028 Olympics simultaneously.

On July 31, 2017, the IOC announced Los Angeles as the sole candidate for the 2028 Olympics, making the path clear for Paris to host the 2024 Olympics. Both Paris and Los Angeles had previous experience hosting the Olympics and possessed good infrastructure, leading to their success in the bidding process.

Olympic Village

An Olympic Village spanning over 112 acres has been constructed along the Seine River. This village extends into the northern suburbs of Paris, including Saint-Denis, Saint-Ouen, and Île-Saint-Denis. It will accommodate 14,000 people, including athletes.

Facilities include large dining halls, various food outlets, a huge gym, training grounds for multiple sports, prayer centers, and doping control centers.

Athletes will use electric vehicles for transportation. There are designated areas along the Seine River for athletes to relax. After the Olympics, these buildings will be converted into 3,000 flats.