Paris Olympics: security for all the top priority during the Games, says city’s deputy mayor
- The 2024 version of the sports extravaganza will also provide a ‘new model’ in terms of legacy to the city and the environment, he says
A prominent Olympics official has promised the security of athletes, spectators and all Parisians is the top priority for this summer’s Games.
Pierre Rabadan, the Paris deputy mayor in charge of sports, said the 2024 Olympics would “mark a radical change in the way major international sporting events are organised” and pledged his city would stage a Games that provided a “new model” for Olympic events.
The 17-day extravaganza begins with Friday’s unique opening ceremony on the River Seine. “It will be the most spectacular opening ceremony in Olympic history,” said Rabadan, who said hosting swimming events in the Seine had “accelerated the river clean-up by 10-to-15 years and transformed it long-term for Parisians”.
An average of 30,000 security guards would be deployed every day during the Games, he said. For the opening ceremony, “nearly 45,000 security guards will be on hand to ensure [it] takes place in complete safety”, Rabadan said.
“We are working in close collaboration with state authorities, including the Paris Police Prefecture, to implement comprehensive security measures across all venues and celebration sites,” Rabadan added.