Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Gérard Darmanin maintains the gauge of 600,000 people for the opening ceremony

For the moment, there is no question of calling into question the arrival of 600,000 spectators for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Gérald Darmanin reaffirmed this objective, this Tuesday before the Senate, while doubts remain on the question of security since the fiasco of the reception of the supporters during the final of the Champions League of football, at the end of May.

The Minister of the Interior assured that a total of “600,000” people will be able to attend the parade of athletes and delegations on the Seine, on July 26, 2024. The lower quays of the Seine will be accessible to “100,000” paying spectators , the high quays will be free for « 500,000 people », detailed Gérald Darmanin.

A reduction had been envisaged this summer

Statements consistent with initial forecasts, but the latter had been called into question this summer. Several voices were raised to reduce the format, such as the Court of Auditors or the former police chief of Paris, Didier Lallement. The organizing committee of the Olympic Games (Cojo), quoted by RMC Sport, had also planned to lower the reception to 400,000 people on the quays, which made it possible « to limit the risks ».

But it would seem that the Minister of the Interior followed the recommendations of his ex-Secretary of State Laurent Nunez – new Paris police chief – who wanted to be reassuring in an interview with Agence France Presse in early August. . “We have already organized a lot of events that have gone well. On the management of events and public order, we are a country that sets the benchmark in the world », retorted Nunez to a question on the difficulties encountered by the police during the final of the League of champions.

To control the flow of spectators and avoid exceeding the gauge, Gérald Darmanin has advanced the establishment of a « free ticket office » along the high quays.