Paris, July 23, 2024 – French Home Minister Gérald Darmanin extended a warm welcome to the Israeli delegation ahead of the Paris Olympics, affirming the nation’s readiness to host the Games, which return to the French capital for the first time since 1924. President Emmanuel Macron, visiting the Athletes’ Village on Monday, declared, “We are ready and we will be ready throughout the Games,” emphasizing the extensive preparations over the years.
The Games will predominantly utilize temporary venues in central Paris. Macron highlighted the transformative impact on France, particularly in Seine-Saint-Denis, where the Athletes’ Village is situated. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach also visited the Village, which will host up to 14,500 athletes and officials at peak times.
The complex, comprising 40 low-rise housing blocks, showcases innovative construction techniques with low-carbon concrete, water recycling, and reclaimed materials. Although designed to be air conditioning-free with a natural cooling system, some delegations have opted for portable cooling units for their athletes.
Seine-Saint-Denis, France’s poorest area and the location of the main athletics stadium, anticipates significant benefits from the Olympics. Macron assured, “I will come back after the Games to see the legacy with you and to see how life has changed.”
Israeli Delegation and Security Assurances
As the Israeli team set off for Paris, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna reassured their welcome after a controversial call by far-left MP Thomas Portes to exclude them due to the Gaza conflict. “The Israeli delegation is welcome in France,” said Colonna, condemning Portes’ remarks as “irresponsible and dangerous.”
Stephane Sejourne, French Minister for European Affairs, also emphasized the delegation’s security. Yonathan Arfi, head of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (Crif), criticized Portes’ comments, recalling the 1972 Munich Games tragedy where 11 Israeli athletes were killed by terrorists.
Team USA and Flagbearer Announcement
Team USA named basketball superstar LeBron James as their male flagbearer for Friday’s opening ceremony on the Seine. James, the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer, expressed his honor at representing the United States on the global stage.
The ceremony will feature 6,000 to 7,000 athletes sailing down the river on 85 barges and boats, with iconic landmarks like Notre-Dame cathedral as a backdrop. The culmination at the Trocadero opposite the Eiffel Tower promises a spectacular display.
Slovenian Olympic cycling coach Uros Murn announced that Tadej Pogacar, who recently won his third Tour de France title, has withdrawn from the Games due to extreme fatigue.
The Paris Olympics, set to commence with a grand opening ceremony on Friday, promise to be a historic and transformative event for the city and its residents.
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