Paris Olympics 2024: Parisian bars will be able to open all night during the opening and closing ceremonies

Olympic Games Paris 2024 MAXPPP – Alexis Sciard

Drinking establishments will be exceptionally authorized to remain open all night in Paris during the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to an order from Paris police prefect Laurent Nuñez.

In this decree dated Wednesday, the prefect explains his decision in particular by the fact that the holding of the Games "is’part of a set of free festivities organized by the city of Paris, outside competition sites", as well as by"the exceptional nature of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games".

Consequently, drinking establishments will be able to remain open the nights of July 26 to 27, August 11 to 12, August 28 to August 29 and from September 8 to 9.

The capital has around 15,000 drinking establishments

It is recalled that operators of drinking establishments "remain, even in this exceptional context, guarantors of the preservation of public order within their establishment.

Takeaway sales of drinks and fast food products on public roads will also be authorized all night on the same dates.

JO 2024 à Paris: les bars autorisés à ouvrir toute la nuit lors des cérémonies d'ouverture et de clôturehttps://t.co/TELQd1Y503 pic.twitter.com/CW7xwhwQcO

— BFM Paris Île-de-France (@BFMParis) July 3, 2024

Several local residents associations – Droit au Sommeil, the Vivre Paris network, which brings together neighborhood associations, and For a desirable city – had protested in March against the decision of the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to grant permission to serve until midnight against the usual 10 p.m.

They had notably denounced a "disregard for the health of local residents".