‘Why wouldn’t I go?’ Australian athletes stare down Paris security fears to be part of opening ceremony
In what’s been billed as the biggest security operation in Olympic Games history, Paris 2024 organisers have locked down 6km of the River Seine before it’s lined by 326,000 spectators for the opening ceremony.
Security threats plaguing Paris’s Olympic Games opening ceremony will be stared down by Australian athletes who refuse to miss the chance to sail the Seine.
In what’s been billed as the biggest security operation in Olympic Games history, Paris 2024 organisers have locked down 6km of the River Seine before it’s lined by 326,000 spectators.
Global tension about the war between Israel and Hamas, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and terrorist attacks in Europe prompted France to elevate its terror alert to the highest level.
That, combined with making Olympic history by holding a ceremony outside a stadium for the first time, has created a security nightmare for organisers.
Some 45,000 police and security personnel will be deployed across the capital for the opening ceremony.
They will be backed up by 10,000 soldiers able to reach most parts of Paris within 30 minutes.
The huge security presence has not affected 3x3 basketballer Marena Whittle.
“That hadn’t even crossed my mind,” she said.
“I’m absolutely going and I feel safe enough in the village and the security is really good.
“It’s quite a safe environment for ourselves and athletes. Why am I not going to the opening ceremony if I can?”
Chef de mission Anna Meares said no athlete told her they would withdraw from the opening ceremony due to security concerns.
“All the athlete’s feedback that I have received, the decision about participation, non-participation has been purely based on their performance outcome,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to being a part of the procession and I feel very comfortable with what I understand and know of the procedures around the opening ceremony.”
Australia will use one of 85 boats – ranging in length from five to 90 metres – as part of the huge flotilla cruising some 10,500 international athletes through the heart of Paris.
Meares said about 12 of the boats would not have toilets on them, with athletes encouraged to go before embarking.
As a host city, Australia will be the third-last fleet to sail ahead of America and France.
This week alone Australia has been the subject of criminal acts in Paris and neighbouring Belgium, the most shocking being the gang rape of an Australian 25-year-old tourist in the early hours of Sunday.
Within 48 hours later two Channel Nine employees were attacked “in a serious physical nature” by a group of men in what appeared to be an attempted robbery.
In Belgium BMX freestyle star Logan Martin had his van windows smashed, luggage ransacked and wallet stolen.
Meares said Martin was “in good spirits” when he arrived in the athletes village.
“He remembered he had an air tag in his bag so he was actually able to locate the bags really quickly and they had been discarded in a nearby parking area so the only thing he ended up losing was his wallet,” she said
“Clearly, it’s a disruption, it’s not ideal.
“These are things that athletes are very resilient to.”
Earlier this week Meares revealed Australian athletes had been warned against wearing team colours in public and avoid walking Paris’s streets alone.
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