Let The Games Begin

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The 2024 Paris Olympic Games began Friday in the French capital, amidst an ambitious mix of high-profile festivities, stringent security measures, significant environmental initiatives, and logistical hurdles including food shortages, and public skepticism.

The opening ceremony, which will take place along the River Seine, will feature nearly 100 boats carrying 10,500 athletes, marking the first time the ceremony is held outside a single stadium, NBC News reported.

International celebrities, such as Celine Dion, Snoop Dogg, and Salma Hayek, who carried the Olympic Torch through Paris, added to the excitement.

The Seine, a central feature of the Games over the next two weeks, was lined with bleachers and venues ready to host a variety of sports, from fencing and taekwondo to basketball and break dancing.

The picturesque river had been considered unsafe for swimming for nearly 100 years due to pollution levels. Since 2015, officials and organizers have invested around $1.5 billion to overhaul Paris’s sewage system and reduce pollution levels in the Seine.

Recent dry weather has improved conditions, but heavy rainfall could still pose a risk by increasing E. coli bacteria levels. Organizers remain vigilant, constantly monitoring pollution levels to ensure athlete safety.

In an effort to dispel fears of pollution, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo went for a swim in the river last week to showcase its cleanliness, the New York Times noted.

This year’s Olympics are aimed to be the “greenest” ones, as organizers pledged to halve the Games’ carbon footprint by using renewable energy and repurposed venues, according to the BBC. This includes innovative measures, such as planting trees and gardens in the Olympic Village, as well as using a geothermal cooling system instead of traditional air conditioning (AC).

However, the decision to exclude AC faced backlash from athletes and national committees concerned about performance, Yahoo! Sports wrote. The geothermal system was designed to keep dorms 11 degrees Fahrenheit below outdoor temperatures, but many feared it would not be sufficient. Organizers eventually agreed to provide 2,500 AC units for the Village, addressing the concerns of teams from hotter climates who insisted on optimal conditions for sleep and recovery.

Food shortages have also been reported, with athletes particularly noting a lack of eggs and grilled meats. The Olympic Village is set to serve approximately 13 million meals during the Games, featuring diverse cuisines from around the world. The food supply adheres to a strict quality charter developed over four years, emphasizing local and organic ingredients.

Security remains a top priority following past terrorist attacks and recent civil unrest in France. Extensive measures involving 10s of thousands of personnel have been put in place, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Only on Friday morning, several of France’s high-speed TGV rail lines were hit by “malicious” attacks in a feat of “coordinated sabotage” to disrupt travel before the opening ceremony, CNN reported. State rail company SNCF said the Atlantic, Northern and Eastern lines were affected by fires to several facilities and trains on some routes to Paris will be disrupted until Monday. The source of the attacks has not been identified.

The city’s efforts also included a mass purge of rodents and controversial removals of homeless and migrant populations, leading to accusations of social cleansing, according to the Independent.

Meanwhile, public sentiment towards the Games is mixed: A survey by IFOP revealed that 36 percent of French people are indifferent, 26 percent are concerned, and five percent are angry about the event, said Le Monde.

The heightened security – including QR code-demanding checkpoints across the city – has led to a 70 percent drop in trade, which has affected local businesses. Cafes that are usually bustling with tourists were unusually quiet.

Despite the high security and quiet streets, a festive atmosphere prevailed near iconic landmarks, including the Arc de Triomphe, where international visitors have gathered.