Opposition To The Idea
Didier cited the vast logistical and security challenges of holding such an ambitious event in Paris.
After all, 130 people had died in a series of Islamist attacks in the French Capital in 2015.
President Emmanuel Macron will hope Lallement’s doubts prove ill-founded.
Paris All Set
On the whole, Paris is all set for the spectacular floating parade scheduled along the Seine river on Friday evening.
Macron told foreign reporters, “At the beginning, it seemed to be a crazy and not very serious idea.”
He further said, “But we decided it was the right moment to deliver this crazy idea and make it real.”
France has rolled out its biggest ever security operation to safeguard the Games and its blockbuster opening ceremony.
Security Cover and Expected Turnout
Officials say there is no direct threat to the Games.
At the same time, they have so far foiled two suspected attacks.
Nearly three billion people are expected to tune in for the opening ceremony.
Athletes will sail 3 1/2 miles down the Seine against one of the world’s most stunning backdrops.
Plans For The Ceremony
Organisers have largely kept their plans for the ceremony under wraps.
Thomas Jolly, the artistic director for the event, has mentioned “a large fresco” celebrating “the relationship that Paris and France maintains with the world.”
No Reaction From Didier Lallement’s office
Lallement’s present office, the General Secretariat for the Sea, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
How the Idea Was Born
Estanguet, a three-time Olympics canoeing champion, was inspired after watching the 2018 Youth Olympics opening ceremony.
Estanguet is now Paris 2024 Chief.
Although Tony pitched to the French President in 2019, it was not easy to get every one on board.
His advisers said that the 2018 Youth Olympics was held in the streets of Buenos Aires.
Over 2,00,000 people attended the Games.
They said that Estanguet, wanted to throw “away the rule book” for Paris 2024.
Estanguet Assigned The Job To Thierry Reboul
Subsequently, he tasked Thierry Reboul, a former Air France advertising chief, with finding an original idea.
Thierry Reboul is now the Executive Director of Paris 2024 and is in charge of the Olympic ceremony.
In 2019, Reboul was strolling along the Seine when he was inspired that the the opening ceremony would take place on the river.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told Reuters she was keen from the beginning.
Resistance To The Idea
Union officials said that apart from Lallement, police unions were also against the high-risk river ceremony.
Macron Was Determined
Sources close to the President said that Macron was immediately seduced by the idea.
Without a doubt, Macron wanted to go ahead with river Seine.
The French President pushed sceptical police and intelligence officials to make it happen.
“I don’t want to know what you think, I want to know how we can do it’,” Macron reportedly told them.
Macron Empowered The Police
Furthermore, Macron pledged to give police more headcount to secure the event.
He also commissioned a confidential “feasibility report”.
In 2021, the report concluded that the Seine ceremony was possible under certain conditions
It recommended fewer spectators and more police.
Macron Announced His Decision
Macron made the announcement in late 2021 to ensure there would be no going back, the source close to him said
At the same time, Macron said there were back-up plans.
No Stone Left Unturned
Many foreign delegations expressed scepticism.
At one point, some even threatened to cancel their attendance, another French source said.
The source added, “They were told no stone would be left unturned.”
Deployment of Police
The French authorities decided to be “over zealous” by deploying 45,000 police to secure the event.
The police deployment is three times the strength used for a regular Bastille Day celebration in the whole Paris region.
Measures Taken
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said this week that thousands of manholes were wielded shut on the route.
Apart from this, cellars and Airbnb rentals along the river were searched.
Even Catacombs Not Spared
Even the catacombs- the underground ossuaries in Paris, were checked.
Political Unity
Mayor Hidalgo, a Socialist has worked hand in hand with Darmanin, a conservative, to make the ceremony happen.
“I told him: ‘We succeed together, or we fail together,” she told Reuters.
(With Inputs From Reuters)
