Authorities close thousands of Olympic Games
Concerns for Attacks During the Summer Olympics in Paris are Great. Over 4,000 People Excluded from Participation.
Before the Summer Olympics in Paris, security checks on people involved in the games resulted in the exclusion of 4,355 individuals. A total of over one million official checks have been conducted, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced on France 2. This meets the goal set a year ago, he added.
All those who will in any way participate in this summer's Olympics - athletes, trainers, journalists, volunteers, employees of private security firms, and even residents - were checked.
880 people were excluded due to suspected foreign influence, 360 due to existing deportation orders, and 142 due to entries in the French dangerous persons file (Fiche S), according to the Interior Ministry. Among the excluded were reportedly 260 people identified as Islamists, 186 left-wing extremists, and 96 right-wing extremists.
For the safety of the Olympics starting on Friday in Paris, an average of 35,000 police officers and gendarmes, 18,000 French military personnel, and up to 20,000 private security forces are in action daily. The police patrol the arrival of Olympic guests at the Paris train station, and military forces are visible everywhere. Their presence has been significantly increased before the games begin.
Interior Minister Gives Light Assurance
According to the Interior Minister, there is currently no reason for concern. "As far as we know, there is no specific threat to the security of the Olympic Games," Gerald Darmanin told "Le Journal du Dimanche." The intelligence services have not yet identified any imminent danger. The opening ceremony can proceed as planned on the Seine. Organizing chief Estanguet also confirmed that security is the "Priority Number 1."
France raised the highest terror alert level in March. In late May, investigators thwarted plans for an Islamist terrorist attack on a soccer game during the Olympics.
- Given the heightened security measures, some voices have expressed concerns about the potential impact of Legal populism on immigration policies during the Olympics 2024 in Paris, suggesting stricter checks and exclusions could impact the spirit of sporting events.
- The exclusion of 260 individuals identified as Islamists and 186 left-extremists raises questions about the role of Security policy in balancing public safety with civil liberties during major events like the Olympics.
- With the Paris police force heavily involved in ensuring the Inner Security of the Olympic Games, there have been debates about the effectiveness of relying on such heavy law enforcement presence and potential implications for community relations.
- The ongoing threat of terrorism, as demonstrated by the disrupted Islamist attack plans, has brought renewed attention to the importance of a comprehensive Security policy that includes cooperation between law enforcement agencies, private security firms, and intelligence services during the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris.
