Parisians flee from Olympia out of their besieged city
Olympic Games for All, a Tourism Magnet, a Booster: This is how IOC President Thomas Bach presents Paris. But in the French capital, unhappiness is already great before the opening ceremony. The Mega-Event is driving away locals. Many streets are closed, rents are already rising.
Under the red awning of Bistro Le Touring, disappointment has set in. Here, in sight of the Arc de Triomphe, they had set their hopes on the summer, on Olympic sales, on tourists from all over the world. But even before the opening ceremony on Friday, the mood in the cellar and the hope have shrunk.
June was bad, and July was no better, and it wasn't just about the persistent rain, inflation, or the uncertain political situation in France. The Olympic Games, the Mega-Event that IOC President Thomas Bach claims will enchant all of Paris, are causing unrest among the gastronomes.
"The security measures" for the Summer Games have "catastrophic consequences" for many businesses, warned the associations Le Sneg & Co and Culture Nuit. They criticize the "lack of clarification" from the authorities and demand "compensation for the losses caused by the organization of the Olympic Games."
Life in the City severely restricted
From the Arc de Triomphe, Avenue Kleber leads directly to Place du Trocadero, but it's not so easy to reach the world-famous Esplanade with a view of the Eiffel Tower these days. The metro station is closed, many streets are blocked. Olympic Paris has a repelling effect.
"Restaurants and brasseries are suffering from access restrictions," criticize the economic associations, adding that visitor numbers have "dropped by about 70 percent." In addition, during the Games, a displacement competition is expected, as during the Football European Championship in Germany. Parisian tourists stay away when sports fans come.
Many Parisians have already left the center; they don't want to put up with having to carry a QR code to cross the Seine. "Our entire local clientele is gone," says Behi Samadian, owner of a boutique in Saint-Germain-des-Pres. There's little sign of anticipation for the spectacular opening.
Among the sufferers of the Games are also the Parisians, who, according to the organization Le Revers de la Medaille (The Other Side of the Medal), are to be made "invisible": the homeless, those who live in tents in the World City, drug addicts, and sex workers. "Social cleansing" is the accusation. A "sterile" city of Light, without visible misery, with "clean neighborhoods without beggars, drugs, and prostitution," was already mentioned in the June report of the coalition of over 100 charitable organizations. A perfect facade for the illusion of the Olympic dream. Far removed from reality.
Rents are already rising
Will the Parisians ever make peace with their Games? Maybe, when all the barriers are dismantled and the IOC caravan heads towards Los Angeles? When Paris is Paris again and not just a spectacular stage for the gigantic TV production of sports competitions?
Mayor Anne Hidalgo called the Summer Games an exceptional opportunity for Paris once. As evidence of the Olympic legacy, she swam in the Seine, which had been polluted for decades, and billions of Euros were invested. It is the showcase project for urban development, it is to be the Olympic legacy.
And what about it? Saint-Denis has received a new swimming pool. One and a half million people live here, a third of them below the poverty line, many of them cannot swim. Hidalgo wanted to advance the north, like London did with Stratford during the 2012 Games. For that, the residents had to endure a lot.
Building permits determined the past few years, including those from the Olympic Village. The 2800 housing units are supposed to benefit the population starting in 2025, but only a third as social housing. Rents are already rising. The Games are changing the neighborhood. Unmitigated enthusiasm, as Bach wishes, does not arise from it.
The closure of streets and metro stations for the Olympic Games in Paris is causing significant distress for local businesses, leading to a drop in visitor numbers by about 70%. The Bistro Le Touring, situated near the Arc de Triomphe, is also feeling the impact, with its sales and hopes for the summer significantly affected.
The associations Le Sneg & Co and Culture Nuit have voiced concerns over the "lack of clarification" from authorities regarding the "catastrophic consequences" of the security measures for many businesses, demanding compensation for losses caused by the Olympic Games organization.
