Paris, France - Recent

Paris has welcomed back the Olympic Games after a century-long wait with a grand "Seine-sational" opening ceremony on Friday as the city navigates between heightened security measures and maximizing economic opportunities.

In an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Nicolas Bonnet Oulaldj, deputy mayor of Paris who is responsible for trade, crafts, professions, arts, and fashion, outlined the French capital's strategies and expectations for the global event.

"The opening ceremony will reach over 5 billion people worldwide. It will be a video clip showcasing Paris, serving as a promotion to attract more tourists in the coming years. Regarding commerce, that's the first aspect. Secondly, we're ensuring communication during the Games to guide tourists and Parisians towards businesses, allowing people to discover the unique offerings of Parisian shops, which are incredibly diverse," said Oulaldj.

Highlighting Paris's cultural and economic vibrancy during the Games, Oulaldj emphasized the initiatives such as extended market hours and late-night dining options to enhance the city's allure for locals and visitors alike.

"And we have preserved the food markets. Today, 90 percent of the markets are operating during the Olympic Games, whereas usually during the summer, we have fewer markets. We have also allowed restaurant terraces, bars, and cafes to stay open until midnight, whereas they normally close at 22:00. After the competitions, the public can go to the terraces, dine, and have a drink, so it's also a somewhat new experience," said Oulaldj.

Addressing logistical challenges posed by security measures at Olympic venues, Oulaldj noted the impact on businesses in designated colored-zones. These areas, secured a week before the opening ceremony, restrict pedestrians and vehicles' access to certain areas to ensure safety but present challenges for local commerce.

"There are significant inequalities because the Olympic sites are security zones, and businesses in these 'red zones' cannot be accessed without tickets. The installation of barriers, especially for the opening ceremony, has had a greater impact on these businesses. Therefore, we cannot assume that the Olympics alone will generate increased turnover for traders. As I mentioned, it's something that allows the entire world to see the uniqueness of France," said Oulaldj.

Anticipating an influx of visitors, Oulaldj expected a significant economic upturn for Paris' hospitality and tourism sectors.

"However, we know that from Monday until August 15, Paris will be full, hotels will be fully booked, flights will be full, there will be a lot of people, so there will be economic benefits," said Oulaldj.

The Paris Olympics will feature over 10,000 athletes competing in 329 events across 32 sports, including the debut of breakdancing, known as breaking at Paris 2024.

SHOTLIST:
Paris, France - Recent
1. Various of Eiffel Tower, Olympics rings;
2. SOUNDBITE (French) Nicolas Bonnet Oulaldj, deputy mayor of Paris:
"The opening ceremony will reach over 5 billion people worldwide. It will be a video clip showcasing Paris, serving as promotion to attract more tourists in the coming years. Regarding commerce, that's the first aspect. Secondly, we're ensuring communication during the Games to guide tourists and Parisians towards businesses, allowing people to discover the unique offerings of Parisian shops, which are incredibly diverse.";
3. Various of Seine River, boats, pedestrians on bridge;
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Nicolas Bonnet Oulaldj, deputy mayor of Paris:
"And we have preserved the food markets. Today, 90 percent of the markets are operating during the Olympic Games, whereas usually during the summer, we have fewer markets. We have also allowed restaurant terraces, bars, and cafes to stay open until midnight, whereas they normally close at 22:00. After the competitions, the public can go to the terraces, dine, and have a drink, so it's also a somewhat new experience.";
5. Stadium exterior;
6. Fences outside venue, Olympics rings;
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Nicolas Bonnet Oulaldj, deputy mayor of Paris (partially overlaid with shot 8):
"There are significant inequalities because the Olympic sites are security zones, and businesses in these 'red zones' cannot be accessed without tickets. The installation of barriers, especially for the opening ceremony, has had a greater impact on these businesses. Therefore, we cannot assume that the Olympics alone will generate increased turnover for traders. As I mentioned, it's something that allows the entire world to see the uniqueness of France.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
8. Various of Paris 2024 logo, fences outside Stadium of France;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
9. Pedestrians entering metro station;
10. Various of signage, trams in operation;
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Nicolas Bonnet Oulaldj, deputy mayor of Paris:
"However, we know that from Monday until August 15, Paris will be full, hotels will be fully booked, flights will be full, there will be a lot of people, so there will be economic benefits.";
12. Seine River, boats, buildings along river;
13. Eiffel Tower, Olympics rings.

[Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]