The Olympic and Paralympic Games : security in the name of festivity

This is a momentous occasion, mobilizing all the actors in the spheres of public policy, education, transportation, housing, ecological transition, employment, tourism, and – of course – security.

Following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which were postponed then rescheduled with many restrictions in 2021 due to the health context, such an international event sets very high festive expectations.

The 2024 Olympic Games will take place during a naturally very touristic time in France. Moreover, and for the first time ever, the opening ceremony will take place outside of a stadium: boats will parade over 6 km on the Seine, in the heart of the city.

In this exceptional context, France must rise up to the challenges – both sports and economic – so security may enable the party to go full swing.

Any event under the international limelight is a potentially very attractive platform for activists seeking notoriety and to make an impact. France, which is already being targeted by terrorist movements and foreign interference operations, must take into account all types of threats which may negatively impact the Games’ organization, disrupt their course either on the Olympic sites or elsewhere, or jeopardize our security’s organization (terror attack, cyber-attacks, or health crisis).

In the face of these risks, the 2024 Olympic Games require the lasting commitment of many forces all while ensuring security continuity all across the country.

The Ministry of the Interior has extensive experience when it comes to securing large‑scale international events, whether sports‑related or not. As an example, we can recall the 40,000 foreign participants who took part in the Paris Conference for Climate (COP 21), mere days after the 13 November 2015 terror attack in Paris and at the Stade de France. Another example is that of the 2018 Football World Cup, and its fan zones all across the country. Additionally, 9 months before the 2024 Olympics, France will host the Rugby World Cup in 9 French cities in September and October. It will be an occasion for the Ministry to perfect its deployment.  

Drawing from this experience, the Ministry implemented a dedicated governance revolving around the National Coordination for the Security of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and of Large‑scale International Sports Events. It deals with steering the Ministry’s different services around this event, is the representative of the security division to the Interministerial Delegate to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and takes part in the steering committee with the organizers and the State. 

As a crucial part of security, intelligence is fully integrated in this apparatus. The Ministry set up an Olympic Intelligence Center (Centre de Renseignement Olympique or CRO), a fusion cell tasked with integrating the intelligence collected by the French intelligence community. The CRO is independent in its assessments to fight against all activity likely to harm the fundamental interests of the Nation and national security.

As an intelligence service, but also as a specialized judicial police service and leader in the fight against terrorism in France, DGSI has a special place in the Olympic Games security apparatus.

It drafts threat assessments and will increase its monitoring in all its areas of expertise for the duration of the Games. It is already working on strengthening its technical and personnel capacities. DGSI is also mobilizing its territorial network across France as well as its international partners.

Also read: Securing the cultural and sports events of Summer 2024 – Press release, from 13 December 2022, by Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories, Rima Abdul Malak, Minister of Culture, and Amélie Oudea-Castera, Minister for Sport and the Olympic & Paralympic Games