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PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS

Olympic chief backs ‘iconic’ Paris opening ceremony despite security fears

The head of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach promised that the opening ceremony of the Paris Games on the river Seine would be "iconic" and "unforgettable" despite ongoing security worries about the open-air river parade.

Olympic chief backs 'iconic' Paris opening ceremony despite security fears
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympics Committee, was interviewed in his office in Lausanne. Photo: Gabriel Monnet/AFP

“The very meticulous, very professional approach (from French authorities) gives us all the confidence that we can have this opening ceremony on the river Seine and that this opening ceremony will be iconic, will be unforgettable for the athletes, and everybody will be safe and secure,” Bach said in an exclusive interview with AFP at the IOC’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Friday.

The hugely ambitious ceremony on July 26 remains one of the biggest doubts about the Paris Olympics.

Instead of the traditional approach of parading through the athletics stadium at the start of the Games, teams are set to sail down the Seine on a flotilla of boats in front of up to 500,000 spectators, including people watching from nearby buildings.

There has been constant speculation that French authorities will have to move or adapt the ceremony due to security threats, with an attack on a concert hall in Moscow in March that was claimed by an offshoot of the Islamic State group raising further doubts.

French President Emmanuel Macron said last week that it could move to the national stadium, the Stade de France, although local organisers have always insisted this was not an option.

“Everybody is determined to have this opening ceremony on the river Seine … while at the same time looking at all the different scenarios,” Bach explained.

Bach said he was counting on the return of spectators at Paris 2024 to help “revive the Olympic spirit” after the Covid-affected last Games in Tokyo took place in empty stadiums.

Two disrupted editions would have meant “the Olympic Games and the Olympic values would have disappeared from the world’s attention for eight years. Eight years is too long a time and so then it would have been very difficult to revive the Olympic spirit,” he said.

Asked about the mood in France and criticism of the Games there, he said this was partly due to global uncertainty.

“It’s not only related to the Olympic Games. It’s part of our zeitgeist because we are living in uncertain times. And there are people who are sceptical. Some are even scared. Some are worried about their future,” said the German former fencer.

“And under these circumstances you can understand some questions and some criticism.”

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PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS

Paris Olympics: Who needs a QR code to get around and how to sign up for one

The platform to request a QR code to get around certain areas of Paris during the Olympics and Paralympics launches on Friday. Here are the groups that will need a QR code, how and when to request one, and where they will be necessary.

Paris Olympics: Who needs a QR code to get around and how to sign up for one

During the period prior to the opening ceremony and throughout the Olympic Games, certain areas of Paris will be sectioned off into zones, with some of them requiring a QR code to enter.

As such, the QR code (pass numérique) requirement will not concern everyone in Paris during the Games. It will primarily affect those who work and live in areas in close proximity to the opening ceremony site and game venues, as well as priority groups including taxi and delivery drivers.

During the Olympic Games, the different security zones will include: SILT areas (Sécurité Intérieure et Lutte contre le Terrorisme), as well as grey, blue, and red zones.  You can find detailed maps here, courtesy of the Paris town hall. You can also watch a short video (in French) explaining the zones from the Paris police prefecture.

If you are not sure whether a place you want to go in Paris will be inside a security zone, you can check by entering the address and the date/time of your visit into an interactive map on the Anticiper les Jeux website.

READ MORE: How to check for Paris Olympics disruption in your area

When will the QR code be accessible?

The platform to request a QR code went online on Friday, but it will only open to the public starting on Monday, Laurent Nunez, the head of the Paris police, told Franceinfo.

How will it work?

You will go onto the website for the Paris police préfecture and upload any required documents.

After verifying your application, you will receive the QR code to enter and exit restricted zones. According to the Paris town hall website, this may not be available until just a few days before restrictions take effect.

For people with difficulty accessing the internet, local authorities will offer an alternative, which will be more clear within the coming days.

The platform will be available in English as well as in French.

Who needs to get a QR code?

First, the platform will be focused on people who live and work in central Paris in the area immediately surrounding the location of the Opening Ceremony (along the Seine river), which will be a ‘SILT’ zone. This will include tourists staying in hotels in the area.

They will be required to upload information such as an identity document and proof of address. For those with vehicles, they will also need to add proof of the garage/car park location, and potentially also their vehicle registration document (carte grise).

If you work in the area, you will need to upload proof of where you are employed – either a ‘professional card’ (such as home-help workers) or an attestation from your employer.

Eventually, people living in these areas will also have to register any guests ahead of time too.

Basically, anyone looking to enter the SILT zone in the days prior to the Opening Ceremony and during the Ceremony will need to have a good reason for doing so and they will need to register for a QR code.

After initially opening to the public on Monday, the platform will also become available to other motorists who will need to drive through restricted ‘red’ zones (eg delivery workers, taxi drivers, etc) during the Games.

People simply walking or cycling through red or blue zones will NOT need a QR code.

What are the zones?

SILT (or ‘anti-terrorism’) zones – To enter these areas, you will need either a ticket or a QR code, plus a form of identification. 

During the majority of the Olympic Games, the SILT zones will only surround Games venues. However, shortly beforehand (starting July 18) and during the Opening Ceremony (on July 26) the SILT zone will extend along the Seine and into central Paris.

People who live and work in these areas will need to register to get a QR code to enter and exit, either by foot or by car. Otherwise, they will be blocked off to non-ticket holders.

On the maps for the Opening Ceremony, they are marked in grey.

Zones surrounding the Opening Ceremony area in the days leading up to the event. CREDIT: Paris Police Préfecture

Restricted areas during the Opening Ceremony. CREDIT: Paris Police Préfecture

Throughout the rest of the Games, the SILT zones are marked with a dark blue line, denoting the area surrounding event locations. You can see an example below;

SILT Zones during the events. (CREDIT: Paris Police Préfecture)

Red zones – these are closed to all vehicles and motorbikes, with the exception of local residents, those visiting sick / vulnerable people, emergency and rescue services – these people can register in advance for a special QR code.

It’s important to note that this does NOT affect people walking or cycling through these areas, they can enter as normal and do not need a QR code.

Blue zones – closed to vehicles and motorbikes with the exception of those outlined above for red zones, plus anyone who can provide a justification such as delivery drivers. Pedestrians and cyclists can move freely through the blue zones.

Licensed Paris taxis will be able to enter red and blue zones, as will VTC drivers such as Uber who have registered themselves and their vehicle in advance.

Metro stations in the red and blue zones may be closed or temporarily closed, although Metro lines will continue to run, but without stopping at certain stations.

Grey zones – On most maps, except for the Opening Ceremony, these are the event venues themselves, and will be open only to people who have a ticket to that event, or accredited people such as Games officials or journalists. Security will be tight and bags will be searched on arrival, as is standard at major sporting events in France.

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