France is preparing to host the Summer Olympics and expects 15 million spectators. Excitement is growing as the time draws closer. Athletes will compete in 32 sports, including four new sports this year. These new sports are breaking, surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing. Construction of new housing, stadiums, and sports venues for the event is on track, and most of the work is complete.
Where will the games be held?
Most games will take place in Paris, France’s capital. The opening ceremony will be a boat parade along the Seine River. Various events like soccer matches will happen in surrounding cities.
The U.S. has consistently been a dominant force in the Olympics. It will likely continue its tradition of excellence across several sports when attending the 2024 Paris Olympics. With the legalization of online sports betting in the U.S., many Americans can now place bets on different Olympic sports.
Cleaning the Seine River
The Seine River has been undergoing preparations since 2018 for the opening ceremony, which consists of a boat parade. The Seine will also be a popular spot for the swimming events. When Paris hosted its first Olympics in 1900, a freestyle race and an obstacle race took place on the Seine, but water quality deteriorated after this.
Much money has been spent conducting water treatment tests and installing new sewage systems. Unfortunately, severe rains in 2023 increased the e.coli bacteria count in the water. Several events had to be canceled as water quality was below acceptable standards. Holding open swimming events in the Seine could be challenging, but authorities still believe it will be possible.
Dining and sustainability
One of the aspirations for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 is to produce a fresh blend of sport and entertainment. At the 2024 Olympics, France has a food vision and hopes it will inspire other cities. Most of the food will be French-produced food. There will be more plant-based foods, and all uneaten foods will be recycled. Long-time Olympic partner Coca-Cola will also make an effort to promote sustainability. Attendees can purchase an eco-cup for refilling drinks from Coca-Cola foundations and dispose of them at recycling centers.
Integrating technology and sport
Paris 2024 is likely to be the ‘most connected’ Olympics to date due to the seamless integration of technology and sport. Apart from technology used to test the Seine water, state-of-the-art sports and safety technology will be used. ATOS is the global IT giant responsible for digital aspects such as safely transmitting competition results and managing biometric entry points for accredited athletes. More than 250,000 hours have been spent testing the digital and technical infrastructure for the games.
Tourism and lodging
Despite price increases, nearly half of all the rooms in Paris hotels are already booked. Over 500,000 tourists are expected to stay at Airbnb accommodations. Establishments in the Paris region are likely to rise by 85% in price according to Deloitte. Other cities near competition venues have seen Airbnb listing viewings increase. Sports fans may decide to find cheaper accommodation in nearby municipalities like Amiens and Reims and commute by train to Paris.
Transportation
There are concerns that the public transportation infrastructure won’t be able to handle 15 million spectators. Locals and tourists already complain about issues like a lack of cleanliness, overcrowding, and poor frequency in Paris metros. The Paris region transport authority will provide a navigation app to visitors to help them find the best routes. Hopefully, this will prevent too much chaos in Paris metros.
