It's beginning to look a lot like the Olympics
Everywhere you go
Take a look at the River Seine, it’s mostly safe to swim in again
Now that fecal levels are so low!
Paris mayor swims in Seine as river is cleaned up just in time for Olympics
Anne Hidalgo fulfills pledge after cleanup operation makes water quality safe enough to host events at Games. (The Guardian)
French sports minister swims in Seine ahead of Olympics
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea Castera took the plunge and swam in the River Seine on Saturday, in a publicity moment that French authorities hope will show the capital's river is clean enough and ready to stage swimming events at the Olympic Games. (Reuters)
It's beginning to look a lot like the Olympics
Unsold mascot merch in every store
But the prettiest sights to see are the homeless that will be
Bused far away from Parisians’ front doors!
France Is Busing Homeless Immigrants Out of Paris Before the Olympics
The government promised housing elsewhere. We followed the buses and found a desperate situation. (The New York Times)
44,000 fences lining the streets and a QR code needed to go out to eat
Are the scourge of every Colette and Jean
Paris transformed into city of metal and QR codes as security ramps up for Olympics
Barricades and restricted zones set up as city center experiences militarisation not seen since the Second World War (The Guardian)
Hundreds of roads that are blocked and random metro stations that are shut
Are a nuisance for Chloé and Gabriel
A survival guide to Paris transport closures for the 2024 Olympics
Paris will be in the throes of Olympic fever from July 26 to August 11 for the 2024 Summer Games. Public transport routes will be revised and vehicle access will be restricted just as millions of visitors are expected in the city. Both residents and tourists are urged to review the revised routes and plan ahead. (France 24)
And Parisians can hardly wait for the Games to disappear again
Beefed-Up Olympics Security Thins Out Tourists, Squeezing Merchants
French businesses had hoped the Games would bring an economic boom, but metal fences and police checkpoints have turned some areas of Paris into dead zones. (NY Times)
It's beginning to look a lot like the Olympics
Everywhere you go
There are rooms available in the Grand Hotel, and dozens in the Ritz as well
The discounted kind that you typically can’t afford!
Paris hotels struggle with low demand as Olympics approach
Last July, the official statistics office of France, Insee, reported that hotel occupancy rates in Paris averaged 90.7%.
This means that in a hotel with 100 rooms, less than 10 would be unoccupied on any given night. However, the current numbers project up to 40 unsold rooms may be available during the 2024 Olympics. (Euronews)
Paris Hotels Slash Prices 41% From Peak to Lure Olympic Visitors
Hoteliers have given up on the dream of charging triple their normal rates. But for some, cutting prices may be too little too late. (Bloomberg)
It's beginning to look a lot like the Olympics
Soon the Opening Ceremonies will start
And what will make you cringe are the awkward songs they will sing
That make Eurovision look like art
Arielle Dombasle sings her "Olympics" hymn at Paris City Hall to welcome the Olympic Flame
Gwen Stefani x Anderson .Paak – Hello World (Song of The Olympics™) Official Video
Ahead of Paris 2024, The Coca-Cola Company has teamed up with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to celebrate the power of sport and music with a new song named ‘Hello World’.
The song was written and produced by songwriter, producer and OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder. Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani performs the single alongside eight-time Grammy Award-winning producer singer-songwriter Anderson .Paak. (Olympics)
It's beginning to look a lot like the Olympics
AI-driven video surveillance on every corner
But the prettiest sight to see is the machine-gun-toting police
Kicking down your own front door
At the Olympics, AI Is Watching You
A controversial new surveillance system in Paris foreshadows a future where there are too many CCTV cameras for humans to physically watch. (Wired)
With AI, jets and police squadrons, Paris is securing the Olympics — and worrying critics
A year ago, the head of the Paris Olympics boldly declared that France’s capital would be “ the safest place in the world " when the Games open this Friday. Tony Estanguet’s confident forecast looks less far-fetched now with squadrons of police patrolling Paris’ streets, fighter jets and soldiers primed to scramble, and imposing metal-fence security barriers erected like an iron curtain on both sides of the River Seine that will star in the opening show. (Associated Press)
Zut alors, it's the Olympics once more!
Chris O’Brien
Le Pecq