Paris is about to throw the world’s biggest sports party and the whole nation is…totally distracted.
All eyes are on the European Cup where the French play Spain on Tuesday after the Blues limped into the semi-finals while only scoring 3 regulation goals in five games. Meanwhile, the Tour de France is bulldozing its way across the French countryside for 2 more weeks. And, of course, today there is Round 2 of the legislative elections after President Buzzkill decided to pull the plug on the National Assembly.
“The atmosphere has been gloomy,” lamented Le Parisien. "Thirty days before the opening ceremony, we should nevertheless vibrate with excitement to see the biggest sporting event in the world take place on our territory, to imagine our athletes breaking all records, to rejoice at the idea of building collective memories around their exploits. Instead, political polarization is reaching new heights, eroding the sense of unity so crucial to the success of the Games, and preventing us from looking forward to what should be a great celebration.”
Polls are showing that the far-right Rassemblement National party is fading just a bit as the other parties unite against them. Still, the specter of the nation being forced to welcome a far-right Prime Minister just as the world rolls into town has definitely dampened the mood. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is trying her best to put on a brave face, insisting that she’s not going to let politics poop on the Olympic parade she’s been planning since 2017, though she was clearly irked that Macron called the snap election on the eve of her big moment.
“The party will not be spoilt,” Hidalgo said in an interview on France 2. “I say to visitors from the world over – come over! Because Paris is a city that stands up for freedom and is a city of resistance against the extreme right.”
At the same time, Hidalgo was adamant that she would not be photographed with the man likely to be prime minister — Jordan Bardella — should the far right be in a position to form a government.
Awkward!
Cleaner Waters
Speaking of poop, the Seine River has, at long last, passed its E.Coli test as officials declared last week that pollution had finally fallen enough to make the water safe for humans.
France has spent €1.4 billion over several years, determined to make the Seine River clean enough for real humans to swim in it for events during the Olympics, including the open-water swimming competition and the swimming leg of the triathlon.
Nature has kept them in suspense all year.
Unusually high rainfall this year kept pollution levels higher than expected as organizers fretted and prayed for sunshine. Paris has built extensive new infrastructure to prevent runoff from the streets spilling into the river. But the heavy rains have overwhelmed that system at times. Those heavy rains even forced organizers to postpone a rehearsal of the opening ceremony that is supposed to take place on the Seine. Just two weeks ago, E.Coli bacteria levels remained 10 times too high to be safe for humans one month before the games.
But, the sun has come out, pollution levels have dropped, and Olympic officials are feeling relieved — for now. Whether that holds will depend on the weather.
Meanwhile, Mayor Hidalgo has said she plans to dive into the Seine for a swim sometime during the week of July 15.
Where The International Tourists Aren’t
Just as officials have been warning for the past year, the Olympics are not proving to be the international tourist magnet that many had expected.
Air France-KLM revealed last week that it projects a loss of possibly €180 million ($193 million U.S.) during the current quarter because those international tourists are steering clear of Paris during the games.
“International markets show a significant avoidance of Paris,” the carrier said in a press release. “Travel between the city and other destinations is also below the usual June-August average as residents in France seem to be postponing their holidays until after the Olympic Games or considering alternative travel plans.”
Forbes noted that the Paris tourism office “recently forecasted a 14.8% drop in foreign arrivals in July 2024 compared to the same month in 2023.” Even Emily in Paris is going to Italy this year. Ouch.
At the moment, industry data indicates that Paris hotel bookings are also falling short, with the highest occupancy rates being 77.8% for Saturday, July 27 when there are a large number of medal events. Opening night stands at 77.7%, while the rate falls to 59.8% on Sunday, 11 August, the final night competition.
In July 2023, the average occupancy rate was 81.4%, according to the national statistics agency Insee.
Still, an independent study suggested the games will have an economic impact between €6.7 billion and €11.1 billion thanks to spending on infrastructure, other French tourists, and the long-term usage of new facilities.
In Closing…
Organizers have started to tease details of the Closing Ceremony scheduled for August 11. The Olympic Artistic Director Thomas Jolly has created a show called "Records” that will be performed at the Stade de France:
Featuring over a hundred performers, acrobats, dancers and circus artists, this visual spectacle will bear the signature of artistic director Thomas Jolly. An original soundtrack, new interpretations, musical performances and the participation of world-renowned singers will complete the picture. Part of the show will take place in the air, while the giant sets, costumes and spectacular lighting effects will take spectators on a journey through time, both past and future.
French athletes will be dressed up for the occasion wearing outfits designed by the French luxury brand Berluti featuring its “signature burnished look,” which includes a “uniquely Berluti white shirt and midnight-blue tuxedo jacket with a burnished lapel in the colors of the French flag.”
If all of this has gotten you super psyched to attend the Closing Ceremony, then here’s some good news: Only 60% of the tickets have been sold! Plenty of seats remaining, so don’t be shy.
Chris O’Brien
Le Pecq
Chris on another subject I sent you a message on Substack chat about my subscription. Could you take a look?
It's kind of sad that there is so little collective enthusiasm for these games, although I'm not a huge Olympics fan. My daughter who lives in Paris hesitates to admit she is going to an event as all her friends are anti-Olympics. I didn't realize it was impacting tourism even in Chinon though.