The more the weeks go by, the closer Paris 2024 Olympics are. Although lots of people are excited to experience this sports event live, some look unfavorably on the event. This is the case of major cultural event promoters. In late October, Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin suggested some festivals could be cancelled or postponed because of Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. The minister addressed major events requiring police officers or riot police members and taking place between July 18 and August 11, and then between August 28 and September 8, 2024.
Paris 2024: festivals likely to be cancelled over the Olympics?
Could several major summer 2024 cultural events – such as music festivals – be cancelled or postponed over the Paris Summer Olympic Games? Because of the huge rallying of security staff required for smooth Olympics and Paralympics, the issue was raised this past October 25, by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. [Read more]
This December 13, in an interview with Le Parisien, Minister of Culture Rima Abdul-Malak addressed the situation, trying to reassure people, saying “the summer 2024 will be as cultural as sport-driven”. The Minister also talked with the promoters of several festivals, especially those taking place at the same time as the Olympics. For most of them, the edition 2024 will take place, but on different periods. “Solutions have been found already for most of these events to make sure they will go as expected in the summer 2024”, she said in a release. This apply to the Vieilles Charrues, Fancofolies de La Rochelle, Hellfest and Eurockéennes de Belfort festivals.
But some big festivals pose a problem. This is the case of Lollapalooza Paris – usually taking place in mid-July at the Hippodrome ParisLongchamp. “This is a difficult case because it takes place in Île-de-France and during the Olympics”, Abdul-Malak explained in Le Parisien. “Will the location or dates change? Will they find an agreement with another festival… We keep on seeking a solution with them”, she said.
“Either we manage to book July 12 and 13, between Solidays and Prix de Longchamp landing on the 14th, or we are sacrificed on the altar of the Olympics”, Live Nation France CEO and Lolla Paris promoter Angelo Gopee told Le Parisien. The latter adds a decision is to be made within the week.
Another Île-de-France festival threatened by Paris 2024 Olympics? Rock en Seine. Usually taking place in late August at the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, the event lands at the same time as the Paralympics. This is “still being studied because in Île-de-France”, the minister specified the daily. “We will no longer be in the red zone but right in the middle of the Paralympics”, festival promoter Arnaud Meersseman told Le Parisien. “We absolutely want to maintain the event in two years’ time, and we are seeking solutions, but we have to comply with the other European festivals that are competing and landing on the same dates”, he added.
Paris 2024: festivals likely to be cancelled over the Olympics?
