EX TV GH People Matter
By Nutifafa Bequine
The clock continues to wind down to the historic Opening Ceremony of 2024 Olympics in the “City of Light”, Paris. Let’s delve deeper into personnel, logistics and security arrangement ahead of the main opening ceremony that is expected to be unique and be watched by millions across the world.
The ceremony will be historical and audience expectancy is highest in the life of the game but let’s look at some of the things making the summer games special
Opening Ceremony Boats: The boats are equipped with cameras for broadcasting and online streaming purpose. it will help provide close rage shot and coverage that will be athletes centred.
Transportation in Paris: Many transportation operators and companies have closed down on the 25th July, 2024 to give way for the opening ceremony slated for Friday. The idea is to reduce congestion and also allow minimal vehicle movement on the streets of Paris. Some major roads have been blocked as well for audience gathering and security reasons. However, there are games vehicles transportation for athletes, officials, volunteers and guests. Situation will return to somewhat normal after the opening ceremony.
Volunteers: Major international tournament as usual would need the services of volunteers. Paris 2024 will not be different, over 300,000 applications were received and 10,500 were selected after vigorous scrutiny and foreign volunteers make up about 20 percent of the volunteers. They volunteers would be clothed in Decathlon shirts.
Game Village: Game village has become a common name and thing in multiple sports tournament especially international games. It is residential area design to house athletes and officials during the games.
According to Paris2024.com, the game village built for 2024 Olympics span parts to three cities: Saint-Denis, Saint Quen and Lile-Saint-Denis. It is strategically built to give city view to occupants from all five different continents. The village is expected to house about 14,500 athletes during the Olympic games and 8,000 during the Paralympic games.
The village is equiped with training gym and training facilities, Medical centre and many more for utmost relaxation and comfort.
Security: The unprecedented choice to host the opening ceremony on river seine stretching over 6 kilometers have made security more arrangement complex as compared to previous international tournaments and games.
Aside the complexity of security arrangement, France is on high alert of attack by deploying over 55,000 soldiers to safe guard the city of Paris against attack.
There is also intensify security along the river as jet fighters and soldiers primed to scramble and also erected metal fence barriers on the sides of river seine which will star in the opening ceremony.
According to News 18, France’s says foreign “elements could try to sabotage the games”. However, the interior minister, Gerald Darmanin said, they have conducted about 1 million of check s which examined Olympic volunteers, workers and people seeking pass to controlled security zones in the city, games venues including the opening ceremony. The said checks have blocked about 5000 people from attending and another 1000 that can be described as foreign interference “that we can say spy” Gerald Darmanin said.
He did not give more details on the suspects or country except one country.
The interior minister has further used anti-terror law to put 155 people under surveillance.
Armed military patrol men on board of vehicles and on foot are common in crowded places to avoid terror attacks.
The government of France and the Ministry of Sports have provided 94 boats that will carry an estimated 10,500 athletes float along the river Seine through the centre of Paris during the opening parade.
