The Seine is one of the main characters of these Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Right in the heart of the capital, the river is set to host the opening ceremony and the marathon swimming and triathlon events - a first in the history of the Games! This exceptional idea has many advantages, but also raises safety issues that jeopardize the events in the event of a problem, forcing organizers to think of plan Bs.
The risk of terrorist attacks, strikes, the flow of the Seine, pollution of the Seine, the vagaries of the weather - these are just some of the factors that could lead to the cancellation of these extraordinary events, right up to the last minute! We take a look at the most important risks.
As we all know, the weather in the capital hasn't exactly been summery since May, putting a strain on thehealth of the Seine, which depends on heavy rain for its water quality. On the many days when it rained, it was impossible to swim in the river, as rainwater is added to the sewage network, raising the level in the pipes that empty into the Seine.
Bacteriological pollution is too high, and the risk of athletes diving in is too great. Throughout June, readings were well above the thresholds defined by the European directive, but since the beginning of July, the situation has improved thanks to higher temperatures and more stable weather. Let's hope this continues, and above all that it doesn't rain too much before the races, so that they can take place there!
Olympics 2024: what's plan B if swimming events in the Seine are cancelled?
Several events are due to take place in the Seine during these Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Many fear they'll be cancelled due to pollution or weather, but is there a plan B in this scenario? [Read more]
The weather doesn't just affect the pollution of the Seine, but also its flow! Yes, that's the risk of creating an event around a living element, which evolves according to different parameters. According to the Cojo, the river's flow is " four to six times" greater "than the usual summer flow", which can be dangerous for the athletes, because of the current, but also for the boats during the opening ceremony!
If the flow remains this high, the boats may have to slow down, which could delay the ceremony, and with a flow of between 300 and 500 m3/s, we'll have to adapt and remove the highest boats," Thierry Reboul told AFP. However, by the time of the ceremony, the river should have calmed its anger and returned to a more normal flow!
Since the introduction of the pension reform law, there has been considerable concern about the possibility of strikes during the Olympic Games. While the RATP and the SNCF do not seem to be raising this possibility at present, Aéroports de Paris has only just reached a compromise to increase staffing levels for the Olympic Games. Finally, it's the artists recruited for the Opening Ceremony who seem to be the target of the strike, so watch this space!
Is the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games likely to face technical worries? A strike notice has been issued by the CGT Spectacle to protest against "blatant inequalities of treatment" between artists. [Read more]
According to France Inter, the risk of Russian interference and the threat of an attack is still high just a few days before the start of the Olympic Games. While the intelligence services are working hard, isolated acts can occur and cause panic and injury. In recent days, knife attacks have multiplied, at Gare de l'Est, on the Champs-Elysées, on the terrace of a bar in the 20th arrondissement, without any terrorist claims.
A huge zone has been set up around the river to ensure maximum security for access to the opening ceremony. Since Thursday, you need a Games Pass to be able to circulate in this perimeter, which enables us to monitor everyone's comings and goings.
Olympics 2024: what's plan B if swimming events in the Seine are cancelled?
Paris 2024 Olympics: CGT Spectacle issues strike notice for opening ceremony
