A vast glass building located near the Garigliano Bridge in the XVth arrondissement of Paris offers an incredible view of the Seine River. In less than a year, millions of eyes will be focused on this river, especially on July 26th, when more than 90 boats will parade to launch the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The anticipation is high, and Marc Guillaume reassures us that the Olympics now occupy the “essence” of his days. After the test events this summer, preparations for the opening ceremony, swimming plans, and the creation of new cycling tracks, the high-ranking official met us to give an update on the pre-Olympic period.
Several test events took place on the Seine River this summer, serving as a major rehearsal for the Games. However, some events had to be canceled due to insufficient water quality. What lessons have you learned from this?
Marc Guillaume: It is true that we experienced an exceptional rainy period, which led to the cancellation of events in early August. Most of the infrastructures, such as the Austerlitz basin, designed to handle rainy weather, have not yet been completed. They will be delivered in the first half of 2024, allowing us to deal with such episodes effectively.
Nevertheless, we did have acceptable water quality in mid-August, which allowed us to proceed with the start of the triathlon events. However, there was an incident involving a Paris sewer valve that was not closed. We must ensure that this does not happen again. No other incidents were reported. We will be ready for next summer, and starting in 2025, people will be able to swim in the Seine.
A first rehearsal of the opening ceremony took place in July. Was it useful?
It confirmed the concept of a procession of boats from Austerlitz to the Trocadéro, with the delegations of athletes on board. There will be separate lanes for media coverage and security. Some adjustments are still necessary to ensure that the speeds and distances between the boats are correct. Other rehearsals will take place in 2024.
The organizing committee has planned a few days’ buffer to reschedule events on the Seine in case of bad weather. But is there also a backup plan for the opening ceremony?
No, the opening ceremony will still take place on Friday, July 26th! Until now, opening ceremonies have been held in enclosed stadiums. This time, it will take place in the heart of the city, which is an incredible opportunity.
The organization of the Games also requires a massive workforce, particularly in the private security sector, where 15,000 positions need to be filled. What is the progress on this?
We have already recruited 6,200 job seekers through private security companies, and another 6,700 are in training. To achieve these results, we contacted 84,000 individuals. Additionally, 1,000 students have joined the training program. The unemployment rate in the sector has decreased by more than two points since September 2022.
Mobility in the region during the Games is a major concern. The people of Île-de-France need reassurance. Will they be able to travel to the competition venues without any issues?
First, we are building about 410 km of cycling lanes to connect all the event sites and allow everyone to reach them by bike. We still have 91 km to complete. At the same time, we are working to provide an additional 20,000 bicycle parking spaces. It is important to highlight the legacy aspect, as 9,000 of these spaces will remain after the Olympic Games. Regarding infrastructure, Line 14 – an essential transportation link from Orly to Saint-Denis – will be completed for the Olympics. The summer brought good news about how the tests went.
The city’s image is also a significant concern. However, the presence of drug addiction, particularly crack cocaine, remains an issue, especially in the Porte de la Chapelle neighborhood. What are the objectives leading up to the Games?
Combating drug addiction, including crack cocaine, is not something we have waited until the Olympics to address. It is a scourge that must be fought for the sake of those affected, as well as for the well-being of residents and the population as a whole, which the State must address. Security actions, under the authority of the Prefect of Police in Paris, and medical and social actions, with the City and the Regional Health Agency (ARS), are ongoing. Before the summer, we had 570 Assore places (a program that provides addicts with hotel rooms and enhanced medical and social support). We now have 609. We are achieving our objectives. We need to continue this work with mediation programs, employment opportunities, and more.
You say the Games are the “priority.” What about other topics?
All the public policies that the State is developing in the region, regardless of the Olympics, are still being pursued. For example, we are currently negotiating the State-Region Contract (CPER) for transportation. The State has already announced that it will allocate over 3 billion euros to this contract, and the region will likely make an equivalent effort.
Many people in Île-de-France are still not in favor of hosting the Olympics. Some are even considering leaving the region during that period. What do you say to them?
As the event approaches, enthusiasm is growing. In all countries that have hosted the Olympics, there has been a sense of pride, which will undoubtedly also be the case in France. Everyone will benefit from it. With swimming, cycling paths, bike parking spaces, professional training programs, and more, we are becoming increasingly aware of the legacy that the Olympics will leave in Île-de-France. Until then, we need to work to be ready.
