On May 23, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organizing Committee said that hundreds of thousands of people will be able to attend the opening ceremony of the world's largest sporting event for free.
Authorities are still discussing how many spectators will be given free tickets to the outdoor performance along the Seine. “The number of tickets could reach hundreds of thousands, depending on the weather and the level of media coverage of the event,” said French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
According to the organizers, about 100,000 tickets will be reserved for special seats along the river. Another 500,000 tickets will be reserved for spectators in higher positions on the boulevards on both sides of the river. Athletes will sail down the river in a fleet of 115 boats. This will be the first time the Olympic opening ceremony has been held outside the stadium.
The first round of ticket sales in February and March sparked criticism over prices as demand far outstripped supply. The latest round, which began on May 11, saw prices for paid seats at the opening ceremony rise to 2,700 euros ($2,900).
In addition, the opening ceremony held outside the stadium also poses a security challenge for the organizers, as about 10,000 athletes and 200 heads of state will be present at the same time in the Seine River area.
Minister Darmanin said about 37,000 security personnel will be deployed for the ceremony, meaning French police will be on duty throughout the Games from July 26 to August 11. About 2,000 to 3,000 private security personnel will also be recruited to ensure security for the event.
Mr Darmanin stressed that drones would be the biggest security threat and France would deploy air defence technology to counter this risk, with testing to take place later this year when it hosts the Rugby World Cup.
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