Locals question if the 2024 Paris Olympics will be worth the hassle

 Locals question if the 2024 Paris Olympics will be worth the hassle

Are people in Paris losing interest in their own Olympic Games?

It may seem unavoidable to reach this judgment after receiving so much negative news in recent weeks.

Initially, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of the city, abruptly declared that the transit system "will not be ready in time" for the 2023 Summer Olympics.

Then, it was revealed that, contrary to what the Paris bid for the Games had stated, buses and metro would not be free for those with competition tickets; instead, rates would quadruple for the six weeks of the Olympics and Paralympics.

At least four distinct exclusion zones around each Olympic site, according to the police chief's security plan, which the president of the hoteliers' organization described as "so complex it gives me a headache just looking at it."

Additionally, almost two out of every three French people surveyed by Odoxa said that they now believed the Games were a "bad thing" for the Paris area. The unfavorable rating of 44% was twice as high as in 2021.

According to the same study, 52% of Frenchmen were thinking of flying out of Paris to watch the Games. "Perceptions about the games are reaching a cautious level," Odoxa said.

Not to mention the conflict involving the 230 quayside booksellers, or bouquinists, who consider themselves to be the guardians of medieval Paris and are opposing attempts to disassemble their boxes in preparation for the July 26 opening ceremony.

It is undoubtedly common to see content Parisians these days, bemoaning sports and everything associated with it.

Evelyn, 65, announced to the throng on the Place de la Concorde (the site of several activities, including breakdancing) that she would be voting in the European elections on June 9 and would thereafter be leaving the country until September. Le breaking, as the French would say nicely).

"Paris would be unbearable," she continues. It's hard to turn around, park, or do anything else. I refuse to participate in the games because Madame Hidalgo has destroyed Paris."

Another local said on social media, "How long until the police chief tells us Parisians to leave the city?"

Of fact, a significant portion of Paris's population leaves the city in July and August of any given year to spend their vacations in the countryside or along the seaside, which is one of the reasons Paris attracts so many tourists. Empty feeling is wonderful.

However, the summer of 2024 has more clarity than in the past, in part because to the alluring offers on platforms like Airbnb. Up to four times the regular fares are charged during the Games, and it is hard to find a Parisian who isn't at least thinking about taking advantage of a windfall.

A consistent bloc of French citizens consistently opposed the Games, citing leftist arguments that they were an enormous financial waste and solely benefited international corporations.

Now, everyone else who thinks this will be a huge hassle comes along with them.

So, ought organizers should be concerned? Most likely not. Most issues are either readily fixed or exaggerated. And which of the next games ever took place without any significant setbacks?

Use a transit vehicle. Mayor Hidalgo's grave remarks about lack of preparedness definitely got Olympic hearts aflutter.

However, context is crucial. There's political problems for the mayor. In addition, she has deep animosity for the minister of sports as well as the (conservative) premier of the Île-de-France region, who oversees suburban rail.

The Parisien newspaper last week quoted an unidentified Olympic official as saying: "Anne Hidalgo always wanted these to be her Games." However, she does not have the funding and it is not her duty. She's taking her time, therefore, to counter these criticisms." "

Thus, it is true that there are worries regarding the timeliness of the 20-year Greater Paris project's RER E and Metro Line 14 expansion. However, it won't be the end of the world even if they aren't.

The Île-de-France transport authority said, "As promised, it will be the first time in the history of the Games that people can travel to all events on public transport."

Given that millions of Parisians will still be able to attend the Games with monthly or yearly tickets, it is doubtful that the issue over transportation ticket prices would deter Parisians from attending the Games. Who will care about all those additional buses and trains needed for the Olympics if they are mostly paid for by tourists?

People need to consider the many police perimeters and the numerous bureaucratic processes for exemptions, which are undoubtedly complex (and hence French!). It's difficult to think they won't succeed this time, however, given that they must be aware of the Covid limits and the gilets jaunes (yellow-vest) demonstrations.

Regarding the Bouquinists, their claim that the government is really trying to eliminate them is completely implausible. The public may have a soft spot for bookish antiques, but that won't stop the Olympics' initial river plan.

No, it's difficult to disagree with seasoned French competitor and IOC member Guy Drut when he states, "Believe me, these lines will appear more the closer we get to the real Games."

Thus, in the next months, Parisians should be expecting more moans. Once again, an entertaining match.