News from France (40) 2024 Olympics and its Rules

By: Nenden Nurhayati Issartel (Correspondent, France)

Tri Indri Hardini (Lecturer, Indonesian University of Education)

Coinciding with the anniversary of Paris Charles de Gaulle airport (Paris- Charles de Gaulle airport was inaugurated in 1974 and this year is the 50th anniversary), the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games (JOP) are being held in the city of Paris which will open on July 26, 2024. All ADP staff (Paris Airport) mobilizing around 1,500 volunteers, Since 2023, the ADP Agency has been actively preparing to welcome around 64,000 athletes and delegates as well as around logistics management with 17,000 pieces of luggage and other large sports equipment.

This year, the city of Paris, which is the venue for the athletes' battle, is like a giant Olympic stadium. The JOP is located in the heart of the city: the main venues of Paris 2024, from the Adidas Arena (Arena Porte de la Chapelle) to the Saint-Denis Aquatic Center, via the Concorde and the Grand Palais, highlight the cultural heritage of the city. Even the holding of some matches is held outdoors in Paris, which is also one way to limit the carbon footprint by making maximum use of existing infrastructure (total 95%).

The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, decided that there would be a swimming event on the Seine river that crosses the city of Paris, despite the huge costs of preparation and cleaning (1.4 billion Euros).

Paris, in recent weeks has begun to be decorated with Olympic attributes. In Place de la Concorde, platforms have been set up so that people can watch basketball matches and skateboard 3X3. On the Champ de Mars, which will host the volleyball match at the Eiffel Tower stadium. However, until now, there is no JO decoration on the Alexandre III bridge even though it is from here that athletes have to jump into the Seine River to compete in the triathlon swimming event, as well as the 10 km rafting race which was renamed the “marathon swimming”. A while ago people began to doubt that this swimming competition would be held on the Seine River. This is probably because from the beginning of this year until June, the air in Ile de France (Paris and its surroundings) was cold due to constant rain and strong winds and the rare appearance of the sun.

On the sidelines of the Olympics, "Paris vous aime” (Paris loves you) also celebrates spring by presenting a variety of places to enjoy the summer such as enjoying the beautiful Parisian pools and terraces, walking around the capital, visiting artists' places, and so on. In addition, the rich heritage of trees in Paris highlights ecology and greenery, such as the Platanes, tree Marroniers, and trees Tilleuls tree to stem global warming in this city and also reduce pollution.

At the Grand Palais, fencing, taekwondo, wheelchair fencing and taekwondo for the disabled will be held. Please note that Le Grand Palais is not a sports stadium but is a historical place and a tourist destination like other historical places and monuments that will be used as a venue for the JOP 2024 matches.

A few weeks before the opening ceremony of the world's biggest sporting event and undoubtedly the biggest ever held in France, the impatience of the city's citizens is growing. But there are also fears of unwanted riots. In addition, it turns out that the JO organizers are still under pressure about the success of the event. They will feel reassured when the most important projects for the Olympic and Paralympic Games are completed early or at least on time.

Currently, the JOP Athletes' Village, the Porte de la Chapelle Arena and the Saint-Denis Aquatica Centre – are being completed on time and several other important locations such as the nef (central part) of Le Grand Palais or the Colombes swimming pool, which will serve as a swimming training venue.

The ambition of the French government in the framework of JO 2024 is to be able to show that at the end of the Games there will be a reduction in carbon dioxide compared to the previous JO (both in London in 2012 and in Rio in 2016). The desire for a more responsible Olympics has guided the organizers in making their choices. In fact, the Games are being held with 95% of existing or temporary infrastructure. So that way, there will be no waste after the Games are over.

In Colombes (92), the Yves-du-Manoir stadium, which hosted the opening ceremony of the 1924 Olympic Games, has been renovated with new stands, adding two buildings, two Olympic hockey fields, as well as an athletics arena, and several football and rugby fields. In addition, the Stade de France also has a new athletics arena. As for Roland-Garros, a retractable roof has been built over the Suzanne-Lenglen court that will be able to host a boxing tournament during the competition.

The expressed desire for a more ecologically responsible JOP is shown everywhere, with the organizers' fight against single-use plastic (athletes will eat from reusable cutlery). In the distribution of food, all food and vegetables, are local and fresh (100% certified food, partly produced in France and/or labeled responsibly, and ingredients obtained without the use of chemicals that destroy the ecosystem). The organizers are even developing a 415 km Olympic cycling network in the Île-de-France. For this, a new 30 km cycling track was created in Paris and 25 km in Seine-Saint-Denis.

Behind these sports activities and competitions, the organizers also hope to make it possible for athlete guests from all over the world to live comfortably. The Director of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Athletes' Village, Laurent MICHAUD, set guidelines for the team working on the construction. Village of Athletes (athlete's village).

The temporary installations in the athletes' village are built with excellent quality. They are also very expensive and energy-consuming. The village is built on existing and sustainable infrastructure. The renovated and newly built residences are designed to be a perfect place, showing a balance between respect for cultural heritage (while preserving the beautiful architecture of Paris) and the demands of sport and the satisfaction of the community. The architect of the building  The Baths of France and the City of Paris polled athletes to provide feedback on their experiences so they can be comfortable during the Games and stay fit.

More than 345,000 apartments for athletes are equipped with blankets, tables, 14,250 beds, 8,200 fans and 5,535 sofas. This equipment will be rented and/or reused after the games. One apartment of 12 m². is prepared for two athletes per room, and a bathroom for four people.

The athletes' food accommodation was taken care of by Sodexo's Executive Chef Charles Guilloy who prepared 40,000 meals for 15,000 athletes. 200 chefs were his subordinates to prepare the menu and try 550 new recipes as their participation for the athletes' performance and respect their nutritional needs so that their food could meet the athletes' desires and tastes.

In addition, Nathalie Greff- Interpreter and linguistic services manager for interpreters at JO Paris 2024 and Head of Language Services Paris 2024, is planning to coordinate the schedules of the 65 interpreters present during Paris 2024 to translate athletes' press conferences as well as executive board meetings.

The translation team certainly needs to rest and be in good physical condition. In addition, long-distance translators are also prepared. These translators are located at Porte Maillot and will be connected to the competition location. Trilingual translators (French, Spanish, and English) are the most widely used translators at this Olympics.

How are these athletes mobilized?

Bicycles or electric bus shuttles operating 24 hours a day are available for athletes to travel to the competition venues, and 80% is less than 30 minutes away.

The 2024 Olympic Arena has more than 8 arenas, but the 8 arenas considered the most beautiful are as follows.

1. The Grand Palais, with its giant glass and steel structures.
2. Concorde, atmosphere between France and Egypt.
3. Trocadéro, the most beautiful balcony in Paris.
4. Alexandre III Bridge, a dazzling jewel of the 1900s heritage.
5. Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), with its Phoenix bird display.
6. Invalides, trail of the Sun King.
7.  The Eiffel Tower, like the beauty queen of Paris for 135 years.
8.  The Palace of Versailles, with its royal buildings.

Security Perimeter During JO 2024 Match

Different security perimeters around the venues are used for the Olympic Games to be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024. Here is how these perimeters are structured. The perimeters are an expression of the need for spatial security, to guarantee the smooth running of the celebrations and competitions, and to allow social, economic and cultural activities to continue in the most satisfactory conditions. Therefore, security measures have been developed with the aim of preserving these activities, and protecting the flow of pedestrians and cyclists, taking into account possible terrorist risks.

For each location, four types of perimeters are color-coded (gray, black, red, and blue) with the principle: the further we go from the color-coded location, the freer we are to move. The perimeters will be activated from the construction of the site to its demolition, and each perimeter has its own specific rules.

Grey Perimeter 

The grey perimeter is the organizing perimeter. This perimeter is only for athletes, spectators with tickets, people with a JO Paris 2024 permit, and local residents who live in the area and are passed by a match, who are sometimes allowed to watch. No vehicles are allowed to pass except those with a COJOP permit (Comité d'organization des Jeux olympiques et paralympiques) Paris 2024.

Black Perimeter  

The black perimeter is the protection perimeter. In this perimeter area, a search and inspection of the bags and suitcases of all persons entering the gray perimeter, and those entering the competition zone, is carried out. The black perimeter is also called the “SILT” perimeter ( Sécurité insécurité et lutte contre le terrorism) (Security, Insecurity and the War on Terrorism).

Red Perimeter

The red perimeter is a red line like a motor vehicle traffic regulation. Cyclists and pedestrians are allowed to circulate within this boundary. Only people with a pass on the digital platform (which will be activated in spring 2024) are allowed to enter by motor vehicle. The red perimeter has two specific purposes: to reduce the risk of terrorism and to ensure the safety of the flow of people who have access to this area or who leave the match site and the local population who are milling about.

Blue Perimeter

The blue perimeter indicates the perimeter of the diversion for motorized traffic. Checks may be carried out at the intersection by law enforcement, with verification of the validity of the route. Pedestrians and cyclists are still allowed to circulate within the boundaries, while only people with a valid reason (exempt evidence) to go to an address located in the blue zone are allowed to enter by motorized vehicle.

Races on public roads will also have to comply with special regulations and this will of course be a temporary obstacle that will make it difficult for people to travel, especially in the summer when Parisians usually go on holiday out of town. These events are the marathon, the para-marathon, the marathon for all, the cycling and the para-cycling events.

Well in advance, French people, especially those living in Ile de France (Paris and its surroundings), have been given information about impassable roads or changes in public transport routes (buses, etc.).

Reference :

-https://actu.fr/societe/jeux-olympiques-dans-les-yvelines-les-restrictions-sur-les-routes-commencent-lundi_61334498.html?#lyg52s6pkdf28e74n2

-https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/actualites/locales/detail/modification-bus-grand-versailles-jeux-olympiques-2024