The Ultimate Security Team: Snipers, Divers, and AI Unite for the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony
The numbers only partially convey the massive effort to safeguard the river parade on the Seine, a groundbreaking departure from traditional stadium openings for the Summer Olympics.
France is deploying approximately 45,000 police and paramilitary officers, supplemented by 10,000 soldiers and 20,000 private security guards, to ensure the event’s security.
This operation focuses on an extensive area along the Seine, spanning over six kilometers (four miles), which will host 300,000 ticketed spectators. Additionally, the area will be bustling with hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists occupying the overlooking buildings.
As a precautionary measure, a no-fly zone with a radius of 150 kilometers will be imposed over Paris an hour before the ceremony commences at 7:30 pm (1730 GMT). This will lead to the grounding or diversion of flights at one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs.
On Wednesday, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin described the opening ceremony to BFM television as “the most extraordinary feat a country can undertake.” He further emphasized the challenges posed by the current geopolitical landscape and the persistent threat of terrorism.
The sheer volume of specialized resources and personnel reflects the complexity of securing such a precarious environment—an open-air venue with rapid water flow and hundreds of surrounding structures. All of this is compounded by France’s heightened state of alert for potential terror attacks.
“Absolute security is a myth,” asserted Frederic Pechenard, former head of the French police force, in an interview with AFP. “The larger, more intricate, and more challenging the site, the greater the risks become.”
Sniper teams from the police will be strategically positioned along the route, maintaining vigilance against potential shooters. This proactive approach was further emphasized by the attempted assassination of US presidential candidate Donald Trump on July 14.
Navy boats, equipped with divers and sonar technology, have been diligently scanning the river depths for any signs of explosives or infiltration attempts. Meanwhile, a comprehensive screening process, involving sniffer dogs and bomb disposal experts, has been conducted for all 85 boats participating in the parade and those moored along the route.
To facilitate the river parade, bi-directional river traffic will be temporarily halted, and physical barriers and nets will be installed for additional safety. These nets can be swiftly dropped to the bottom of the waterway if required.
The concept of holding the opening ceremony on the Seine was initially met with resistance from some senior security officials and drew criticism from renowned French criminologist Alain Bauer, who labeled it “criminal madness” in 2022. However, the original plans, which anticipated up to a million spectators along the river, have since been modified.
“The risks remain unchanged and have intensified due to the conflict in Ukraine, the situation in Israel and Gaza, and the social, environmental, and political tensions within France,” Bauer cautioned in his conversation with AFP. “While it is a captivating idea, it comes with a significant price tag and far-reaching implications.”
In the lead-up to the event, central Paris has been transformed into an impregnable fortress. Metal barriers now line both banks of the Seine, with only residents and hotel guests permitted within the high-security zone.
The French army is taking the lead in anti-drone operations, employing the nation’s most advanced electronic warfare capabilities. “Drones now pose a genuine threat, and that’s why we’ve taken proactive measures,” explained Jean-Michel Fauvergue, former head of the police commando unit RAID.
Drones operated by security forces will also play a pivotal role in monitoring suspicious activities, working in tandem with AI-augmented cameras. This cutting-edge technology, deployed for the first time in France amid controversy, will enhance crowd surveillance.
France has endured repeated attacks from Islamist terror groups over the last decade, including assaults on the Charlie Hebdo magazine, the Bataclan concert hall, and the national stadium—the latter set to host athletic events during the Games.
In March, President Emmanuel Macron revealed that an offshoot of the Islamic State group in Afghanistan was plotting attacks against France. This disclosure was accompanied by regular threats issued through IS-affiliated social media accounts.
According to Interior Minister Darmanin, four suspects believed to be conspiring to perpetrate attacks during the Games have been apprehended.
The international backdrop, particularly the conflict in Gaza, has exacerbated concerns. “The history of Islamist terror attacks demonstrates a clear pattern,” Pechenard remarked. “Whenever there is tension or a foreign war, our country faces repercussions.”
Fauvergue, drawing on his experience as the former head of the police commando unit during the Euro 2016 football tournament, assured that French forces are up to the task. Despite the continent being plagued by a series of suicide bombings at the time, the tournament proceeded without incident. “The threat level was high, but the Euros went ahead without any attacks,” he recalled.
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