Paris 2024 Olympic Games: law enforcement, security bubble… The system that will be deployed to protect the route of the Olympic flame is known

Une “bulle de sécurité” de 100 policiers et gendarmes autour de la flamme olympique. EPA – MOHAMMED BADRA

La flamme olympique sera protégée par 100 policiers et gendarmes dans une "bulle" de sécurité lors de son parcours en France, de Marseille à Paris, avant l'ouverture des Jeux, a indiqué lundi Gérald Darmanin.

"A hundred police officers and gendarmes will accompany" the flame throughout this route, including the GIGN, the elite unit of gendarmes, which will be "all the time" "nearby", specified the Minister of the Interior during a press conference.

A protective bubble around the Olympic flame

Within this "bubble", "18 plainclothes police officers and gendarmes" will ensure "close protection" of the torchbearer.

A mobile force unit, approximately 100 agents, placed at the front and rear of the convoy, will also be responsible for fighting against "all forms of public disorder", specified the minister, citing possible "sit-ins".

Also read: Schoolchildren discovering the Olympic flame

The main risk of disruption comes from "ultra-left environmentalist" collectives, according to Gérald Darmanin who cited "Saccage 2024", & quot;Last Renovation" and "The Uprisings of the Earth". "At this stage, there are no inclinations from the ultra-right", he said again.

The Olympic torch relay will begin in Marseille on May 8 and end in Paris on the day of the opening ceremony of the Games, July 26.

A "security bubble" 100 police officers and gendarmes around the Olympic flame. MAXPPP – Luc Nobout

The relay must cross "100 emblematic sites", "more than 400 cities" and 5 overseas territories. "65 stage towns will close the stage each day", detailed the ministry in a press kit. The territories are supposed to pay 150,000 euros (excluding taxes) to see the flame pass.

1 million euros to secure the course

Securing the route will cost the Ministry of the Interior 1 million euros, continued Mr. Darmanin.

For the arrival of the flame in Marseille where 150,000 people are expected, 5,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized.

Pour la 1ère fois dans l’histoire des Jeux, chaque jour pendant les Relais de la Flamme, des relais en équipe de 24 personnes seront organisés avec le mouvement sportif Français pour faire rayonner l’énergie du sport et du collectif 🔥

Leur nom… les Relais Collectifs ✨

— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) January 10, 2024

The torch relay will also be in Paris on July 14 and 15 and will pass through several emblematic places in the capital, such as the Pantheon, the Louvre museum or the National Assembly. It will also pass through the popular district of Belleville.

For this route through Paris, 1,600 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized to secure the relay.

Also read: PODCAST. Paris 2024 Olympic Games: meeting with Héléna Cazaute, Gruissanaise and captain of the French volleyball team

A total of 12,000 torchbearers and volunteers revolving around the torch relay were screened, that is to say subjected to an administrative investigation, Minister Darmanin also specified. There were 13 negative opinions issued, 10 for facts of a judicial nature and 3 on the advice of the intelligence services.