2024 Olympics: France to Deploy 35K Security Personnel

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May 23, 2023

Above: The Paris 2024 logo is displayed near the Eiffel Tower before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games on June 17, 2024 in Paris, France. Image copyright: Chesnot/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Imagesstory last updated Aug 05

The Facts

Citing concerns of novel drone threats, French interior minister Gérald Darmanin announced the deployment of 35K security and military troops to protect the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony that will proceed along the River Seine in the heart of Paris.
The opening ceremony is set to be one of the most extravagant in Olympics history, executed along the 6km (3.5 miles) river. In preparation, the French government, the Olympics committee president, and the Parisian mayor issued an 11-page security protocol on Tuesday.

The Spin

Narrative A

The Olympic Games are an opportunity for people from around the world to unite and experience athletic greatness on display. However, the exorbitant prices set for the 2024 Paris Olympics set an unreasonable barrier that defies the Olympics' commitment to make the games accessible to all. It is quite unfortunate that many people with a love for competition will not be allowed to attend the games because of corporate greed.

Zawya

Narrative B

While it would be ideal to have tickets to the Olympic Games affordable to all people, there are security costs and market demands that must be considered and prioritized. The fact that millions of tickets have already been sold shows that not only is there plenty of demand for tickets despite the price of some, but that people recognize that there's no price on safety.