Paris 2024 Olympics: Why and How France is Working on a Plan B for the Opening Ceremony

The term is no longer taboo. And behind the scenes everything works. According to our information, which partially confirms that of Le Canard Enchaîné, several meetings have taken place in recent weeks to discuss the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and “its Plan B” mentioned at the end of December by Emmanuel Macron. during his interview with France 5. In the presence of Élysée Palace secretary general Alexis Kohler, directions were discussed to prepare back-up solutions for the evening of July 26, when some 10,000 athletes will parade along the Seine to officially begin the Olympic Games.

Around the table are representatives of the Organizing Committee (Cojo), the headquarters of the Parisian police and the Prefecture of Ile-de-France in exchange for river traffic. And according to our information, “many scenarios” are rejected by the participants. Contingency plans are discussed, ready to be used in the event of an increased risk of terrorism or other threat to the safety of participants or the public.

Trocadero, a possible backup plan

As mentioned by L’Equipe in December, one of them leads to the Trocadéro, a now-closed location in the capital where the parade is expected to end and serve as a meeting place for dignitaries and heads of state. “We could hold some kind of light ceremony there, but really as a last resort if we have to remove the athletes from the Seine. This is not a trend at the moment,” says one participant. Some sources deny the seriousness of the option attributed to Alexis Kohler Canard Enchaîné to place only the standard bearers of each delegation on the barges.

“This is complete madness,” says a regular participant in the case, recalling the plan proposed by “a person far away” from these meetings. “It’s a decision like any other,” says another source. The Elysee Palace, contacted by Le Parisien-Aujourd’hui in France, refutes this hypothesis.

“As part of the ongoing monitoring of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, work continues to prepare for the opening ceremony on the Seine, based on the original idea of ​​Thierry Reboul (event director of Paris 2024), confirmed by the President of the Republic. – explains the entourage of tenant Emmanuel Macron. The architecture of this ceremony becomes clearer, with possibilities for adaptation if circumstances require it. However, the options presented in the article in Le Canard Chainé dated February 7, 2024 were never mentioned. »

But if they are necessary, these reflections” “This is a way to reassure the public, to say that there is another way to act if an unforeseen security situation arises a few days before the event,” emphasizes the participant’s entourage. As it stands, the priority of the evening’s organizers is to work on Plan A. And in particular to reflect the number of spectators on the upper quays of the Seine, again revised downward by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin at the end of January.

How many people will be able to attend the opening ceremony?

If in the scenario revealed at the end of 2021, 500,000 people were planned in addition to 100,000 paid seats on the lower platforms, the tenant of Place Beauvo reduced this figure to 220,000 in an interview with France 2. “This is exactly what can be used if necessary,” explains the source security. You can always close any area you feel is too open to the public. »

According to our information, the police continue to plan the deployment and organization of the ceremony in their original philosophy. Paris 2024, where 100,000 tickets are sold at the bottom of the platforms, is also in the same vein.

The same goes for the boaters who took part in the parade on the evening of July 26th. As every month, a meeting of the Paris Port Community took place on Monday, bringing together river stakeholders. “No one expected such a scenario; on the contrary, we celebrated the future opening five and a half months later,” says the participant.

“Organization of the parade continues. In any case, no one is showing any signs that everything can stop,” comments the shipowner, who has issued an invoice for the next term under the contract signed with those responsible for the opening ceremony. At the moment, the state is sticking to its chosen course. But be prepared to respond if an emergency occurs.