2024 Olympic security budget lowest in 20 years

Security is expected to account for 4.7% of the original $7.4 billion budget, a figure only higher than the 2000 Sydney Olympics (about $179.6 million). In fact, costs have often increased over the Olympics, including security. By the end of 2022, the French government announced that costs had increased to about $8.5 billion.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, the actual security costs were $1.3 billion (14% of the total budget). Beijing 2008 was $6.5 billion (15.5%), London 2012 was $870 million (6%), Rio 2016 was $895 million (6.8%) and Tokyo 2020 had to increase costs due to Covid-19 prevention with $1.5 billion (11.5%).

According toReutersTerrorism and cyber attacks are the two main security risks facing the 2024 Olympics. Security chief Thomas Collomb said the risk of terrorism was planned for, but the main risks were the risk of cyber attacks and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The Olympics in France are launching the third of four private security tenders, which are expected to involve 17,000 to 22,000 security personnel each day. The French military plans to mobilize 15,000 troops, mostly deployed in the main venue, Paris. The military plans to deploy air surveillance drones, fighter jets, helicopters equipped with firepower and UAV-disabling equipment.

SheetThe WorldFrance has passed a new bill that would allow the temporary use of cameras and artificial intelligence software at the Olympics to identify faces. Critics fear this will permanently erode privacy and civil liberties.

The most heavily guarded event will be the opening ceremony on July 26, with a long parade on the Seine attended by some 600,000 people. Thirty thousand police and soldiers will be deployed to ensure security around the venue. Brittany Jacobs, dean of the School of Sport Management at the American Public University System, said it was the largest event ever seen in Europe in terms of security. "The stakes are very high," she told Reuters. "If it's successful, we'll be talking about it for decades."

The last time there was a major security incident at the Olympics was in the United States in 1996. A bombing at the Atalanta Olympic Park killed one person and injured 111. Meanwhile, France was hit by a terrorist attack in November 2015 at several entertainment venues and cafes in Paris, while a friendly match between France and Germany was taking place at the Stade de France.

The Paris Olympics opened on July 26 and closed on August 11. The event featured 10,500 athletes competing in 329 events in 32 sports. Paris was the main host city, along with 16 other cities and the French island of Tahiti in the Pacific Ocean.

Vietnam has three official spots to go to Paris next year, including shooter Trinh Thu Vinh - women's 10m individual pistol, Nguyen Thi That - women's road cycling and Nguyen Huy Hoang - men's 800m freestyle swimming.