Paris: Amid heightened security concerns and a volatile geopolitical landscape, France has reached out to approximately 45 foreign nations, soliciting additional military, police, and civilian support to fortify security measures for the upcoming Paris Olympics this summer, government sources disclosed on Friday.
The scale of protection planned for the event is substantial, with France intending to deploy around 45,000 French police and security forces, backed by 20,000 private security personnel and approximately 15,000 military personnel daily. This formidable presence aims to ensure the safety of millions of sports enthusiasts and tourists who will converge on the country during the peak summer season.
Recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, coupled with persistent terrorism threats, have prompted the French government to elevate its security alert to the highest level in recent memory.
A French military official emphasized, “The security context, particularly in recent weeks, means that there is extreme vigilance regarding the security of these Olympic Games.”
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While it’s customary for international sporting events to enlist foreign police assistance to manage the influx of visitors, the call for military aid is less common. However, during the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar, France provided military support to local authorities, deploying sniffer dogs and anti-drone personnel.
According to sources within the French government and the interior ministry, a formal request was issued in January to approximately 45 countries, seeking reinforcement with over 2,000 personnel, encompassing both military and non-military capacities.
These requests encompass a spectrum of military and police tasks, including motorized and equestrian brigades, document verification experts, mine clearance specialists, anti-drone units, and K-9 teams.
Poland has already announced its participation by dispatching troops, including sniffer dog handlers, while Germany pledged its contribution in March. Additionally, other European allies such as Britain and Italy are set to deploy dozens of police officers to assist with street patrols, according to diplomatic sources.
The French government revealed that 35 countries have thus far responded affirmatively to the call for assistance. An interior ministry official likened this approach to previous international events, citing the involvement of 160 European security forces during the 2023 Rugby World Cup held last September.
In addition to the broader multinational support, both Israel and the U.S. will deploy their own security assets to bolster Olympic security. Concerns about the safety of the Israeli delegation, heightened by recent conflicts in Gaza, have prompted intensified security measures, although specific details remain undisclosed due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Sources revealed that multiple delegations from Israel have engaged in discussions with French authorities to address potential security challenges ahead of the games.
