Thousands of athletes are set to sail through central Paris on Friday during an unprecedented and high-risk Olympics opening ceremony that will showcase the country’s hugely ambitious vision for the Games.
On Friday evening parades, up to 7,500 participants passed 6 kilometers (4 miles) from the Senu River on a fleet of 85 boats. Unlike the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic and kicked off in empty stadiums, the Paris spectacle will take place in front of 300,000 enthusiastic spectators and VIPs and celebrities from around the world.
“Tomorrow will be one of the most amazing opening ceremonies,” French President Emmanuel Macron promised at a pre-match dinner for heads of state and government at the Louvre on Thursday night. The lineup of performers is a closely guarded secret, but rumors suggest they will include American pop star Lady Gaga and Franco-Malian singer Aya Nakamura, the world’s most-listened-to French-speaking singer.
It will be the first time the Summer Olympics have opened outside the main track and field stadium, a decision fraught with danger at a time when France is on high alert for terrorism. Organizers spent months debating whether to shorten or reschedule the march, but always maintained there was no Plan B.
“Security is difficult to ensure” A huge security perimeter has been erected along both banks of the Seine, guarded around the clock by some 45,000 police and paramilitary personnel, who were on duty Friday night. The other 10,000 soldiers will be added to the protection compensation with 22,000 private security guards.
“Providing half of Paris is much more difficult than giving a stadium with 80,000 people, and you can love them and send them in turn style. “Frederick Pecenaard, former CEO of French police says to AFP. Police snipers are positioned on all the high ground along the river convoy route, within view of hundreds of buildings.
The attempted assassination of US presidential candidate Donald Trump on July 13 has captured the public’s attention. The safety source told AFP that an armed officer was also on a boat.
The Israeli and Palestinian teams will benefit from additional protection and the start of Gaza Israel. Organizers will be wary of further protests Friday night after Palestinian flags were waved and the Israeli national anthem booed during the Israeli soccer team’s opening match on Wednesday.
The opening ceremony will likely set the tone for the rest of the Olympics, which run from July 26 to Aug. 11, and organizers promise it will be a “historic event.”
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