Raising metro prices, cleaning filthy river: Paris rushes final touches ahead of summer Olympics

PARIS: Organisers of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games aim to bring this year's biggest sporting event into the heart of the City of Light.

Some of the French capital’s most iconic landmarks are set to play host to various events, including fencing in the redeveloped Grand Palais, archery in Invalides, and beach volleyball right next to the Eiffel Tower.

With three months to go, organisers say the Games are on time and on budget. The athletes' village is ready, final touches are being made to venues, and logistics are in place to welcome the more than 15 million tourists expected to descend on the city.

However, there have been problems in the build-up.

TRANSPORT PRICES TO SHOOT UP

Subway prices are set to almost double for visitors during the Games.

A single journey metro ticket will cost €4 (US$4.30). A new pass called the Paris 2024 pass – which allows commuters to travel across the entire Ile de France region, including Paris – will cost €16 euros a day.

Normally, single journeys cost €2.10 and a monthly pass costs €84.10. Locals with a monthly or annual pass will not be affected. 

Transport authorities have faced criticisms that the price hike exploits tourists. However, they said the increase will help them cope with the anticipated surge in visitor numbers.

There have been fears that Paris’ transport system will not be ready to meet the influx, but the region’s president Valerie Pecresse has denied these claims.

“The prices will go up so that the Olympics are 100 per cent accessible by public transport,” she said. “Public services have a cost and pretending otherwise is a lie. It’s a fair price.”

SECURITY AND SAFETY

The most ambitious part of the Games will be the nearly four-hour-long opening ceremony.

Athletes from around the world will be ferried by 160 boats along a 6km route on the River Seine, with an expected 300,000 spectators watching from the banks.

Organising the unprecedented showpiece on the moving waterway is proving to be a headache for security planning.

“Every country has terrorist threats. There are threats to law enforcement and public order. In France, we also have protest groups,” said former tactical police chief Jean-Michel Fauvergue.

“These threats exist, they are here, they will always be here. We cannot guarantee that there won’t be an attack,” he added.

Authorities are ramping up security efforts to safeguard the event. In the week leading up to the ceremony, nearby metro and tram stations will be shut while most river traffic will be stopped.

On the roads, only authorised traffic will be allowed – anyone accessing the immediate surroundings of the Seine will need to sign up on an online platform, including residents of homes in the vicinity. 

CLEANING UP RIVER SEINE

Another challenge will be the events that are due to take place in the river, such as marathon swimming and the aquatic leg of the triathlon.

There are concerns that the Seine is too polluted. Multiple studies have shown that the water quality of the river is not fit for competition.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said that works currently underway will improve the situation, and she is confident the water quality “will be up to Olympic standards” come the Games.

However, the Surfrider Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that focuses on protecting the world’s waters, voiced doubts that the Seine will be ready and warned that competitors who swim in the river face significant health risks.

“We hope that the works being carried out will help improve the quality of the water and permit the events to take place. But currently, bearing in mind the thresholds that we are seeing in these samples, it would appear pretty complicated,” said the foundation’s head of sports Lucie Segalas.

After criticisms that event prices were too high, one million free tickets were handed out to young people, amateur athletes, and those with disabilities.

One hundred years ago in Paris, gold medals were awarded in sculpture, painting and music.

While art competitions are no longer part of the Olympic programme, France is hoping to craft a unique opening spectacle and host a successful Games to build a sporting legacy.

The Summer Olympics will be held from Jul 26 to Aug 11, while the Paralympics will be held from Aug 28 to Sep 8.