Dn a little over two years, France will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the biggest event ever organized on our territory: 13.5 million spectators, 4 billion television viewers, nearly 15,000 athletes, 20,000 journalists, and more than 70,000 volunteers – to highlight just a few figures boasted by the organizers.
Because of its magnitude, this subject should be at the heart of political, economic and social debates. However, it is clear that only the organizing committee communicates in order to legitimately promote its event. In fact, all the major questions relating to the Games are passed over in silence and only their “festive and joyful” side is addressed.
Some might find this normal, insofar as the Paris Olympic Games will not be held until 2024. Financial masses and volumes mentioned (several billion euros) seem, at this stage, far from the daily concerns of the French. A fortiori in a context where the management of the Games – between the Organizing Committee, the Olympic equipment delivery company, the Interministerial Delegation, the communities and the government – did not seem clear until recently.
Take action in time
Beyond the new government organization which must clarify the situation, the urgency requires the public authorities to take full control of the subject. Simply selling dreams (games outside the stadiums, without financial risk, etc.) and avoiding all the debates is no longer possible. Too many questions arise, and the next Paris 2024 Board of Directors, on July 12, must provide answers to them, otherwise measures will no longer be able to be taken in time to guarantee the full success of the Games.
While some questions are specific to the organization of Paris 2024, others are related to the political, economic and international situation, but cannot be overlooked. What about security? For more than two years, all private players have been concerned about the market’s inability to have sufficient and properly trained resources to meet the requirements in this area.
If the government, within the framework of the Paris 2024 interministerial monitoring committee, has taken measures, these seem very insufficient. Should the level of requirement be lowered? Of course, the opening ceremony on the Seine, with some 600,000 spectators, 200 boats filled with Olympic athletes and several hundred heads of state and governments to protect, worries. What about the necessary recruitment of snipers and frogmen?
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