Overview
- France scales back the number of spectators for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony to 326,000, amid security and crowd control concerns.
- The opening ceremony, set for July 26, will feature a parade of athletes on boats along the River Seine, a departure from traditional stadium events.
- Security measures include a significant reduction in spectator numbers, extensive security checks, and the closure of airspace around Paris.
- Tickets for the waterfront viewing are on sale, with some distributed for free by the Games' partners to selected groups, including residents of French host towns.
- French President Emmanuel Macron requested the reduction in spectator numbers, driven by concerns over crowd control and the risk of terror attacks.