2024-07-21 08:44:20
The 33rd Olympic Games open in Paris this weekend.
Paris will host the Olympic Games exactly 100 years after it last hosted them in 1924, and it will be the third time the city has hosted the major sporting event. The Olympic Games motto, “Games Wide Open,” refers to the inclusive nature of the event for both participants and spectators.
The Olympic Games will run from July 26 to August 11, with the most popular dates being the opening ceremony on July 26, the closing ceremony on August 11, and the Israeli swimming and judo team competitions from July 28 to August 3.
For the first time, the opening ceremony will take place outside the Olympic stadium, on the River Seine. Delegations will march and sail along the river, passing iconic landmarks such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde. The procession will end at the bridge by the Eiffel Tower, where speeches will be made and the Olympic flame will be lit in the Trocadero Gardens on the other side of the bridge.
Hundreds of Israelis have already bought plane tickets to Paris. However, if you are still unsure whether to go, Channel 13 has compiled several reasons why you should not visit Paris this month, as well as some examples of expenses if you decide to go.
Safety
While there is currently no travel warning in France, it is important to know the truth: For the first time in the country’s history, Israel is participating in the Olympics while at war. This conflict is known to fuel hostility between various world factions.
France also has a large and active Muslim community, and the Jewish community, the largest in Europe, has seen multiple anti-Semitic attacks this year, including the arson of a synagogue in Rouen and the storming of a Jewish Agency event in Lyon.
Combined with the tense situation in the city and growing concerns about potential terrorist threats and attacks, it is no surprise that Paris is on high alert.
Two months before the Paris Olympics, the Mossad uncovered an Iranian-backed terrorist network that targeted Jews in Europe and Israeli-linked targets. These infrastructures were run by major criminal organizations across Europe.
Therefore, the Israeli sports delegation will be the most closely guarded of all delegations in France, with an unprecedented number of Shin Bet security personnel. The largest budget is allocated for the security of the Israeli sports delegation abroad, including advanced technological measures never before used at such events.
Security is further complicated by the fact that the Olympic motto is to make the games accessible to as many people as possible. This means holding competitions in major tourist locations open to the public, such as under the Eiffel Tower or on the Place de la Concorde.
For example, during the opening ceremony on the Seine River, when delegations will be presented on boats passing under the city’s bridges, special drones will be hovering over the river throughout the event to ensure safety.
France itself has also made unprecedented preparations to address security concerns, with the Paris municipality dedicating more than 55,000 police officers and soldiers to ensure the safety of the games and the city.
The security plan for the opening ceremony includes closing the areas bordering the Seine to traffic, closing the airspace and airports around Paris, closing nearby metro stations and guarding businesses in the area. Sewer systems will also be secured.
From today, French security forces have begun setting up barricades in the city centre. Some areas of the city will be closed to traffic until the opening ceremony, while in other areas only those with special permits will be allowed through the barriers.
Campaign and protests against Israel
In recent days, an anti-Israel campaign has been unfolding on Arab social media, protesting Israel’s participation in the Olympics. Although it is too late to prevent Israel’s participation in the Olympics, the campaign aims to create a negative discourse against Israel through images, cartoons, and anti-Semitic videos.
A Palestinian delegation will also attend the Paris games, saying their participation is an opportunity to condemn the war in Gaza. The Palestinian delegation includes more than 20 Olympic and Paralympic athletes, most of whom live abroad and hold dual citizenship.
Therefore, during the competition, anti-Israeli chants are expected not only on social networks, but also throughout Paris, accompanied by protests and rallies.
The Olympics will be held not only in Paris, but also in other cities, such as Marseille, where sailing competitions and some football tournaments will take place. Although there are direct flights to Marseille, it is considered a city with a large Muslim population, so Israelis are advised not to visit at this time.
High prices
In addition to safety concerns, economic considerations also come into play. Those who did not purchase air tickets in advance will now have to pay relatively high prices. The combination of summer and the Olympics takes its toll on the wallet, although round-trip tickets can be found for $550-600 on certain dates during the Olympics.
For example, a flight to Paris from August 3 to 10 with Transavia (Air France’s budget airline) will cost $503, from August 5 to 10 – $517. A flight from July 27 to August 3 with Air France will cost $546.
If you want to attend the opening ceremony, you’ll have to shell out $704 for a roundtrip flight from July 24 to 27 on Air France, while if you prefer to fly from July 23 to 28 on El Al, the cost will be $812 for a roundtrip.
For those who want to attend the closing ceremony, a week-long trip from August 5 to 12 with Transavia will cost $581, while a weekend trip from August 8 to 12 will cost $618.
The main issue is hotels – although it turns out that the number of tourists wanting to visit the Paris Olympics is significantly lower than expected, as tourists from other countries also worry about the possibility of terrorist attacks, violent protests and high prices.
According to data published on the website “Paris je t’aime”, the Paris City Tourist Board estimates that the number of visitors in the coming weeks will be 11.3 million, of which only 1.5 million will be international tourists. As a result, hotels, which initially raised their room rates by more than 300%, have been forced to reduce their prices and remove the minimum stay requirement.
However, Paris remains an expensive city, and despite the reduction in hotel prices, they are still above average. Add to this the peak summer tourist season, and you get high prices.
Crowds and traffic jams
The last reason may not be as significant as the previous two, but it does contribute to the balance – heavy congestion is expected on Parisian transport (already very crowded and on the verge of collapse) and queues at the city’s attractions and restaurants. Paris is already the most visited city in the world, with a record 11.5 million visitors each year. The Parisian municipality also fears strikes on the public transport system, which is a common occurrence in the city.
Speaking of sights, if you’ve already arrived in Paris, you’ll be pleased to know that the Notre Dame Cathedral, which suffered from a fire, has been renovated. Although you can’t get inside, the outside is already finished, and during the Olympics it will be illuminated with special colored lights.
Earlier, Cursor wrote that on the eve of the Olympics, homeless people and drug addicts were being taken out of Paris.
2024-07-21 08:44:20