Category: Paris
Paris Olympic Games 2024: Knowns and Unknowns
Transportation
Walking – central Paris is only 10km/6 miles in diameter, some venues are a little or a lot outside of Paris
Public Transportation
Metro / subway – it will be very crowded, some stations closed for security next to venues; some lines to venues will be even more crowded
Metro workers to test automatic translation units for communication, in process
Key metro line 14 to athlete’s village undergoing major upgrade; major metro upgrade in suburban areas over next few years
Buses – subject to surface gridlock, some dedicated bus lanes, some dedicated buses to certain venues
Trams – goes around the city, limited in number and frequency,
Bike rental – city of Paris system Velib, adding 10,000 more bikes; manual & electric; must be retrieved and returned to special locking stations; not intuitive system, cheapest, dedicated phone app
Lots of floating electric rental bike fleets: (Lime, Dott, Tier, Zoov)
Olympiades bike paths 30miles/55km to be added to venues; +25km in St.Denis
Adding 3000 bike parking places at Stade de France
Adding 10,000 bike racks outside of Rolan Garros, Eiffel Tower/Champs de Mars
Electric scooter rentals – banished from Paris
Electric Moped (vespa size) – CityScoot, Cooltra, YEGO – need to check driver’s license, insurance, helmet requirements.
Taxis/Uber – subject to surface gridlock; Uber works in Paris; G7 has dedicated app for taxis, tip: from the airport (CDG) there is a flat taxi rate from the official taxi stand taxis (55-60€)
Public Transportation Rates/Payment/Apps
Easy Navigo card 2€ plus tickets, can buy on machine at station or on phone with Bonjour RATP app; limited to central Paris (zone 1-2)
Navigo Découvert card 5€ plus tickets for any/all zones 1-5
Recommend a visa/mastercard with touch
Apps recommended: Bonjour RATP (English version); Citymapper – both give you bike options; need internet connection to get real time alerts; currently lots of metro problems due to people leaving / forgetting packages
Stay alert for pickpockets, not violent, but fast
Lodging
Stay as near as possible to the venue where you have tickets
Big hike in hotel tax effective 01jan2024; 11.75€ for five star hotel
Personal apartment rentals (Airbnb, +), the rules: only possible if you are the owner; if sublet must have owners written permission and rate limited to existing rental rate paid; must register with City of Paris and receive a registration number, otherwise subject o fines of 75,000€ and/or 5 years prison; owner must have insurance for seasonal renters
Check for air conditioning at lodging, most private residences do not have air conditioning, maybe a portable unit
Opening cermony along the Seine, 27 july 2024
Number of spectators reduced from 600,000 to 300,000. Sold 100,000 tickets for prime spots; 200,000 ticket to be release for free sometime in the future, no information available; security clearance will be required but no information yet
10,000 athelets, 60 boats from gare Austerliz / Jardin des Plantes to Eiffel Tower/Trocadero, 6km
80 giant screens to be available to watch ceremony
Event designed by Thomas Jolly (Starmania) with holograms, lasers, floating things; no rehearsal on the Seine possible
Security
Over 35,000 security force
Also using cameras and drones with AI to monitor for suspicious activities
Security zones setup in which only ticketed spectators, workers, emergency services, local residents will be allowed; security plan not released yet
Emergency alert system currently being tested
The Seine & marathon swimming 10km
50,000 m3 resevoir at Austerliz for overflow rain/swewage, with treatment plant
Monitoring bacterial level continually
Paris plans to open areas for swimming for general public in 2025
The Weather
Events may be rescheduled if temperatures are too hot
Olympic Village is built without air conditioning, using geothermal cooling, shades, blinds to moderate temperature to be less than 6C of outside temperature; July 2019 high of 42.6C/108.7F worst case scenario; discussion of portable air considtioner units
Advice bring cool clothes, hats, water
Most drinks served without ice, maybe one or two small ice cubes
Iced coffee and iced tea mostly in cans
Strikes
Potential strkes by police/security
Potental stricket by public transportation
Vacation
July/August are traditional vacation months for the French and many other Europeans
Paris is generally very empty in residental areas
Some stores closed, minimal service levels
Red triangle mascots – the Phryges
The Phryges are the official mascots of Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.[1] They are two anthropomorphic Phrygian caps that are a symbol of France.
The Phrygian cap, a soft, generally red hat, was worn by freed slaves in Phrygia, an ancient Greek kingdom in what is now Turkey. At the time of the French Revolution, the Phrygian cap was worn as a symbol of freedom. Marianne, the national personification of France and basis of the Paris 2024 emblem, is often depicted wearing a Phrygian cap.[2]
Olympic Merchandise
Check Decathlon – best prices
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Episode Page TranscriptCategory: Paris