Preparations for the Paris Olympics stepped up a gear on Saturday as security teams scoured the banks of the Seine ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony and top International Olympic Committee officials met in the French capital.
In preparation for the celebration, which will see between 6,000 and 7,000 competitors sail in front of 300,000 spectators on roughly a hundred barges and river boats, police with sniffer dogs inspected the six-kilometer (four-mile) course down the Seine.
The French police will get support from their counterparts in Spain, the United Kingdom, and Qatar.
A ceremony practice was held on the river early on Saturday, but the public and media were kept out of sight by police and security barriers.
Since this is the first time a Summer Games opening ceremony would take place outside of a stadium, the stakes are very high for the aquatic parade.
Residents of central Paris have experienced significant disruptions due to the ceremony’s preparations. To cross the Seine, one needs a pass with a unique QR code.
“Over the past two weeks, we’ve seen considerably fewer clients than normal. A large number of Parisians have left town, and there are very few tourists. In a Saint-Germain-des-Pres boutique, Behi Samadian,69, stated, “All of our local clientele has gone.”
8.7 million tickets have reportedly been sold, breaking the record set by the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Since several of the 45 sports still have tickets available, this number is expected to rise.
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