The thorny issue of the gauge for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games has been resolved.
If the organizers thought they could accommodate a total of 600,000 people for this unprecedented nautical parade on the Seine on the evening of Friday July 26, there will ultimately be "only" 326,000 spectators along the river in Paris: 104,000 paying on the lower part of the platforms, figure already known, and 222,000 free on the high platforms.
But this second category will only be chosen by invitation, which will deprive the general public of experiencing the event.
This is the main announcement made by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, during his hearing before the Senate Law Committee on Tuesday afternoon.
Place Beauvau had the last word with what it presents as “plan B” for this unique ceremony, since this quota of free places was originally supposed to be accessible to as many people as possible via a platform.
In fact, the Ministry of the Interior will delegate the choice of people invited to “trusted third parties”, who will then have to send a list of guests to the authorities.
The State, the departments and the cities of Île-de-France hosting the 2024 Olympic Games, but also the organizing committee of the Games will be able to decide, according to the criteria of their choice, to invite people or groups to come and attend. at the opening ceremony of the Games.
The distribution of these places is not yet known.
The authorities will be able to detain guests
The authorities will ultimately be able to reject guests.
Either because there will be no more places available in a given sector: spectators will be distributed by zones along the river, at the rate of three people per m2, but will not be able to walk around to follow the entire ceremony, which will last 3.5 hours, from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Or because the intelligence services will consider that one of the people represents a risk to the security of the event.
Those selected will have a QR code and must present themselves with proof of identity on the day of the event.
Access to the secure areas will be through the same locations for paying spectators and those who can follow the ceremony for free.
In total, the Ministry of the Interior estimates that it will be necessary to manage 576,000 spectators on the evening of July 26: the 326,000 direct spectators, plus 200,000 installed in the buildings overlooking the Seine, but also 50,000 in the fans -Parisian areas.
In total, 45,000 members of the police will be deployed that day.
The opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games, scheduled for August 28 at Place de la Concorde in Paris, will welcome a total of 65,000 people.
35,000 in the stands on the square itself, and 30,000 who will be able to follow the athletes' parade for free on the lower part of the Champs-Elysées.
For the moment, we do not know whether these 30,000 people will be able to access simply by registering in advance.
Or if they too will be selected.