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The riots across France in recent days have shown signs of easing, but are posing many problems for the government and organizers, in the context that Paris is one year away from hosting the world's biggest sporting event: the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
“Tourists have massively cancelled their bookings for this summer and also for the upcoming Olympics,” Thierry Marx, president of the Hotel Industry and Trade Association, told French radio station RMC.
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Mascots of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics |
According to the French press, the images of violence spread around the world not only made France look bad, caused a loss of tourism revenue, but also raised many concerns about security issues for the Olympics, a sporting event returning to the French capital after 100 years.
In fact, security for the 2024 Olympics has been a major concern for event organizers from the start. The government and the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee have drawn up many security plans that take into account the instability caused by the social situation in France, from the violent protests of the Yellow Vest movement in 2019 to the anti-pension reform movement since the beginning of this year.
The riots that have erupted across France following the death of 17-year-old Nahel have raised many questions: Is security at Olympic facilities adequate? Will France be able to handle the 15 million visitors expected to visit during the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics?
Although no Olympic facilities or structures have been damaged in recent days of violence, that does not make organizers any less worried. Many Olympic infrastructure projects are located in neighborhoods that are still considered sensitive.
French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Casstéra confirmed to French media on July 3 that the government has taken measures to strengthen security of infrastructure serving the Olympics and Paralympics.
To avoid causing adverse effects, Deputy Mayor of Paris Emmanuel Grégoire reassured that tourists will not be afraid to come to Paris and believes that the "social atmosphere" will calm down.
The leader of the French capital affirmed that Paris is making great efforts to make security risks only a side issue, the city is always cooperating closely with the police department to research and develop plans to ensure maximum safety for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
According to observers, despite such confident statements, it is clear that handling security incidents with large crowds is still a weakness of French security forces as well as event organizers.
This includes clashes between fans and police outside the Stade de France stadium during the UEFA Champions League final in May 2022.
From now until the opening day of the Olympics, France will host a major sporting event that can be considered a real test of its security capabilities: the Rugby World Cup, which will take place from September 8 to October 28.
However, no matter how perfect the security protection plans are, they are only last resort measures that no one wants to implement. The concern of the French Government at this time is how to find a peaceful social atmosphere for the hexagonal country.
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