Paris 2.0, a moveable feast

My dude Hemingway lived in Paris 100 years ago in 1924 and figured this out: The city is a ‘moveable feast.’ Considering that the man witnessed two world wars, was involved in the Spanish Civil War, and survived two plane crashes in Africa, you can’t help but trust his insight. The combination of Paris and the Olympic Games—the pairing of a moveable feast with the global sports celebration—it doesn’t get more powerful.

Grab a baguette and pain au chocolat from your local bakery, don a béret if you have one handy, and pour yourself a glass of vin blanc (retsina will do). It doesn’t matter if you’re dressed as a ‘French stereotype’ amid the blistering summer heat in Greece. Perhaps experiencing an authentic Parisian vibe this way is more feasible than finding a sense of familiarity in the city’s current circumstances.”

The five rings and all the event’s branding surround us.

To clarify, there are just four days left until the Olympic Games begin, and if Paris seemed to be operating normally, I’d be a bit surprised. The five rings and all the event’s branding surround us. No matter where you look, everything is pointing toward what’s coming. The city is relatively empty, as it is every summer when Parisians head out to the countryside, but we expect a significant influx of tourists as the Games approach. The already chaotic metro system has become even more tangled with additional signs, announcements, arrows, exits, and special routes for the Olympics layered on top of the existing 16 lines. The color-coding helps a bit, with pink marking the Olympic areas.

Another surprise upon arrival was that everywhere we went, the French were exceptionally polite. Is it the influence of the Olympics? Or is the new generation more courteous and fluent in English? I’m not sure. However, we haven’t yet experienced the typical stereotype of rudeness and chauvinism. Félicitations!

Let’s discuss the much-anticipated opening ceremony. It will be the first in history to take place outside a stadium and be open to the public. Instead of the traditional parade of nations, delegations from each country will float on boats along the Seine River in a six-kilometer route from the Austerlitz Bridge to the Trocadéro.

Most of the 80 giant screens along the route are already in place, and essential infrastructure, including cables, lighting, speakers, and seating areas, has been set up.

Aside from the bridge crossings, the section of the river where the parade will take place is fully enclosed, with barriers blocking access along the adjacent streets. Entry is permitted only after passing a police check. Only accredited individuals (like us) and permanent residents with proper identification are allowed to walk along the river.

Most of the 80 giant screens along the route have already been installed, and essential infrastructure, including cables, lighting, speakers, and seating, is in place. The French have also started decorating the bridges themselves. We are definitely expecting something spectacular and, hopefully, safe, too.

Don’t expect to see bouquinistes with their outdoor book stalls before the opening ceremony. After a lengthy battle with the organizing committee, the stalls, closely associated with Parisian history, will remain closed (but won’t relocate) until July 27 due to the lockdown along the Seine.

As for the thousands of SDF (Sans Domicile Fixe), the homeless people in central Paris, that’s out of the question. Most have already been quickly relocated to other areas of Paris, as they don’t fit the festive atmosphere.

Regarding the much-discussed security measures, there is a noticeable police presence everywhere—both on the streets and in the metro—which can feel somewhat intimidating. Access to popular attractions like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower has also been restricted to specific entrances. Despite having a reserved time slot, we had to wait an additional 30 minutes in line just to enter the Louvre. On a different note, we thoroughly enjoyed the special exhibition on the Olympics, notably the Bréal Cup, which the Stavros Niarchos Foundation lent to the Louvre.

Only a few athletes have arrived at the Olympic Village so far, with most of the Greek delegation is scheduled to arrive on a special charter flight on July 24, just two days before the opening ceremony.

I’ve been going on for this long and haven’t mentioned the athletes yet, and here’s why. The Olympics are inevitably so complex and involve so many procedures that many athletes choose to avoid the Olympic Village before the Games. Instead, they opt for a quieter location for the final phase of their preparation, such as the suburb of Antony, where the Greek athletics team is based. Either that or they choose to arrive later. A few athletes have already entered the Olympic Village, but most of the Greek delegation will arrive on a special charter flight on July 24, two days before the ceremony.

Stay tuned to FYI. news for updates on the stadiums, digital strolls along the Seine, and the Olympic Village!