Paris-2024 Security

Havana, January 18 (JIT) - Nearly 20 thousand military personnel will be mobilized during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (July 26 to August 11). This was announced by General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army, at a press conference in Metz.

"The Olympic Games will be a very important moment for our country. The army will deploy almost 20,000 soldiers," he said.

One of its missions will be to "accompany the Olympic torch." It will leave the Greek enclave of Olympia on April 16 and arrive in Marseille on May 8 to begin its journey through France.

During the Games, "part of the military will be mobilized for protection in the broadest sense, accompanying the internal security forces," Schill explained.

The army will be tasked with protecting the start of the opening ceremony of the Games, which will be held for the first time outside a stadium, on the Seine River running through the French capital.

The army will set up a camp to house "several thousand soldiers" during the Games on the Reuilly esplanade, southeast of Paris, Schill said.

The scale of security is unprecedented in France for the Olympic Games, which will be held from July 26 to Aug. 11, and the Paralympic Games that will follow.

Tens of thousands of police officers and members of private security companies are also expected to be mobilized. If Paris 2024 organizers are unable to recruit the necessary number of private security guards, the military could add additional troops.

Maneuvers to respond to possible crisis situations during the Games are also part of the army's preparations. In the air, the French army plans to use Reaper surveillance drones, AWACS reconnaissance aircraft, fighter-bombers, in-flight refueling aircraft and helicopters with snipers and anti-drone equipment.