Paris will be ready for the 2024 Olympic Games and will host more than 100 presidents, heads of state, monarchs, and ministers

In recent statements to the media and through their communication team, French President Emmanuel Macron has assured that both France and Paris will be fully prepared for the hosting of the 2024 Olympic Games.

While we often associate governmental and institutional events with major international summits like the G7 and G20, the World Economic Forum in Davos, or the United Nations General Assembly, international sporting events also play a crucial role in the realm of international relations and their positive impact on destinations. Examples include FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, Formula 1 Grand Prix, and tennis championships, among others.

These events attract high-level representatives from each country, including heads of state, prime ministers, presidents, ministers, as well as other regional and local authorities. Beyond the sports spectacle itself, these occasions serve as bilateral or multilateral visits where many world leaders strengthen ties and reach agreements for their respective nations or regions.

Following the successful Olympic Games held in Japan, it is now Paris's turn to gear up for what President Emmanuel Macron calls a historic event. Hosting such a significant sporting event is no easy feat, as the host not only needs to provide the necessary infrastructure but also ensure a smooth and secure execution. The responsibility of ensuring the safety of athletes, media, spectators, and dignitaries falls squarely on the host country.

Olympic Games, in general, draw heads of state, including presidents, monarchs, prime ministers, and ministers of culture and sports, to the host city. They are, therefore, a pinnacle event in the Governmental and Institutional Travel and Tourism (GITT) sector, requiring adherence to the highest standards of security, protocol, transportation, and more.

However, the recent unrest in Paris, as well as in parts of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, has raised concerns about the feasibility of hosting the Games in Paris. French authorities are already working to address these concerns, as the capital city needs a successful event to overcome its recent history of unrest over the past decade.

Yet, hosting such a prestigious event can benefit the destination in various ways. Paris is already a world-famous city and a top choice for millions of domestic travelers each year. However, hosting the Olympic Games will reaffirm its status as a safe and modern destination, where its historical charm intertwines with the Olympic spirit, all under the watchful eye of an extensive security apparatus, ensuring the success and integrity of visitors, athletes, authorities, and Parisians.

Fortunately, preparations seem to be going smoothly. The facilities are almost complete, including a state-of-the-art Olympic Village to accommodate over 14,000 athletes and their support staff. The sporting venues are also being adapted without any major issues to host the Games. Furthermore, comprehensive transportation plans, both public and private, are being studied to seamlessly connect different points of the city where the Games will take place, as well as to accommodate athletes and dignitaries and host the events.

In this context, service providers play a fundamental role, both for the displaced athletes themselves and for government and representation delegations. It is important to consider that Paris, for obvious reasons, is accustomed to hosting major events such as multilateral summits, sports events, urgent meetings of NATO or the European Union, and more.

However, it is also essential to emphasize that for an event of the magnitude of the Olympic Games, where the entire world will focus on the French capital, highly specialized providers in these types of GITT services are required: accommodation, transportation, security, intermediation, translation, gastronomy, communication, or protocol, among many others. This will entail the need for some of these providers to move from neighboring regions and countries to be able to serve delegations of such magnitude.

President Macron, speaking from New Caledonia, confidently stated, "France is ready without a doubt," and Laurent Núñez, the prefect of Paris security, gives maximum assurances.

The opening ceremony is expected to be historical, featuring a river parade of sports delegations and authorities spanning over six kilometers on the Seine, with an estimated attendance of over 500,000 people who will undergo rigorous security checks. For this purpose, about 55,000 police officers, escorts, and security personnel will be operational during the ceremony and throughout the Olympic Games.

All signs point to a resounding success. France offers strong guarantees, and local citizens are eager to welcome such an event, leaving behind the recent unrest experienced throughout the country.