France is set to welcome athletes from around the world. Along with them, a portion of the world’s uniforms will also be present in the country. Several foreign countries will be sending military personnel to France to help secure the Olympic Games, a significant challenge as the country reverted to the highest security level, “emergency attack,” of the Vigipirate plan just two days after the attack claimed by the Islamic State in Moscow.
Among the nations involved, Poland revealed its presence in the Olympic Games setup on Thursday afternoon. “The Polish armed forces will join the international coalition set up by France to support the preparation and security of the 2024 Summer Olympics,” announced Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz on the social network X, formerly Twitter. When contacted by Le Parisien-Aujourd’hui en France, the Ministry of Defense confirmed that several other countries would also contribute to the effort, without specifying which ones.
The effort beyond borders will not be limited to the armed forces. The Ministry of the Interior issued a request in early January for “approximately 2,185 reinforcements” from “46 foreign partners.” Over 35 have already responded positively to the French requests. For the Olympics, around 35,000 law enforcement members will be deployed, increasing to 45,000 on the day of the opening ceremony along the Seine.
During the Rugby World Cup, around 160 representatives of European security forces had come to France, particularly to manage supporters from the British Isles. For the 2016 UEFA European Championship hosted in France, 180 foreign police officers were part of the security setup for the competition, mainly for potential hooligan incidents. France, on the other hand, had sent 226 individuals for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, including 167 gendarmes responsible for anti-drone measures.
Some of the most anticipated reinforcements during the Olympics will come on four legs. “Several foreign nations will support us in critical areas, such as canine capacities, where the needs are significant,” stated the Ministry of Defense. Around forty foreign military canine teams are expected, valuable for detecting potential explosives with their noses, tasks Poland will contribute to, in addition to guard and patrol missions.
Could some foreign police officers be armed during the Olympics? This would be a setback for France, which within a year increased its military presence from 10,000 to 18,000 individuals for the event, having to seek assistance from neighboring armies and security forces. “It is a common practice for host countries to organize major international events,” noted the Ministry of the Interior. Discussions are underway with foreign counterparts, particularly regarding the potential arming of some foreign police officers. Beauvau is open to the idea, especially for delegations more susceptible to terrorist attacks.
Foreign law enforcement agencies will be deployed around areas where their compatriots will be present. For example, agents from the German federal police will be stationed at Jean-Bouin Stadium in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, the chosen venue for the German Olympic committee, which can host up to 17,000 people during the Olympics. Germany is also among the countries tasked with securing the cities where the competition will take place, a top concern for French authorities at present.
