Closed airspace, tens of thousands of security forces, huge barriers Paris: The unique Olympic opening ceremony in the middle of the Seine is not only a special spectacle, but also a challenge in terms of safety.
45,000 police and gendarmes are present at the opening, which will be attended by more than 100 heads of state and government and representatives. There are also thousands of soldiers and emergency services from many other countries.
From 13:00 the entire Seine will be closed. Numerous metro stations near the coast will be closed. Only those who live or stay in the area or have a ticket for the ceremony will be able to enter the security area.
Protection on the ground, in the water and in the air
In the evening, the airspace around Paris will also be closed – within a radius of 150 kilometers. According to the sports newspaper “L’Équipe”, with such a large area, security forces have ten minutes to react if a suspicious aircraft is spotted. Special jammers are used to protect against drones.
“If everything goes as well as possible, after the opening ceremony we will talk less about security and more about sport,” said French acting Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. “I will take care of security, the others will take care of the medals.”
According to L’Équipe, the athletes’ boats will be searched by dog teams and divers. Sonar equipment and special barriers should also provide protection in the water.
Six kilometers across the Seine
The ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is expected to last until 11:15 p.m. We will start at the Pont d’Austerlitz and then head west to the Trocadéro by the Eiffel Tower. The parade will pass numerous landmarks, including the Louvre and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
The more than 200 delegations will cross the Seine in 94 boats. The route is six kilometers long. The German teams are on the seventh boat. Judoka Anna-Maria Wagner and basketball player Dennis Schröder will fly the German flag.
The organizing team promises a big show. It is still unclear who will appear at the spectacle. According to rumors, Lady Gaga and Celine Dion could be there. Who will light the Olympic flame and where that will happen is still a mystery.
Some 300,000 spectators will marvel at the parade right on the banks of the Seine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is said to be one of some 120 official state and government representatives.
Anyone from Germany who wants to follow the ceremony can watch it on ARD and Eurosport. In Paris, fans can find live outdoor broadcasts at numerous locations.
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Closed airspace, tens of thousands of security forces, huge barriers Paris: The unique Olympic opening ceremony in the middle of the Seine is not only a special spectacle, but also a challenge in terms of safety.
45,000 police and gendarmes are present at the opening, which will be attended by more than 100 heads of state and government and representatives. There are also thousands of soldiers and emergency services from many other countries.
From 13:00 the entire Seine will be closed. Numerous metro stations near the coast will be closed. Only those who live or stay in the area or have a ticket for the ceremony will be able to enter the security area.