Its build-up has been mired in political turmoil, a contaminated river and – yet again – complaints about flimsy cardboard beds. Paris 2024, due to kick off on July 26, will be a huge logistical challenge. Around 10,500 athletes and 15 million tourists are expected in the French capital.
The outdoor opening ceremony, which will be attended by some 100,000 spectators packed along the banks of the Seine River, is every security agency’s nightmare. And let’s not forget the quest to be carbon-neutral. Paris officials ordered the athletes’ living quarters to be without air conditioning units, but countries including the US, Britain, Australia, Italy, Canada and Denmark intend to bring their own units for athletes in case of heat waves.
With the French public having grown wary of the ballooning costs of the event, officials are desperately clinging to forecasts the home nation can almost triple its gold medal total from the 10 won at Tokyo, while boosting the mood of the nation by increasing its overall medal haul. The country’s best two performances came when it hosted the Olympics in 1900 and 1924, finishing first and third, respectively. France will now be hoping to make home advantage count again as it looks to close the gap on the likes of the United States, China and Great Britain.
This time the home nation is predicted to win 28 gold medals, 19 silver and eight bronze, having not finished inside the top five since London 1948 when it ranked third. Here are some o.