More threats to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: strikes and weak bridges

The Paris Olympic Games are under threat call for strike by public employees. The leader of the CGT, Sophie Binet, sent a “red card” to the government last Sunday, warning it of the “social challenge” that her organization represents and which no one has faced so far.

“Games Hundreds of thousands of workers are affected“, explained the union leader.

“First of all those who They will have to work much harder than usual with overtime and paid holidays that they will not be able to enjoy. That’s why we ask What are the social conditions of this work?. How will we welcome all the workers who will have to come to Ile-de-France for the Olympic Games?”, asked Sophie Binet.

A new perspective after the departure of Philippe Martínez, its old leader. “How will we look after your children during the school holidays? What bonuses will they receive? At the moment there is nothing on this front”complained the new general secretary of the second French workers’ confederation.

Binet asks to organize a meeting in Matignon on the “social challenge” that competition represents.

Social truce?

The president of the organizing committee of the Paris Olympic Games, Tony Estanguet, asked this at the end of February a social “truce” during the competition.

Negotiations have been taking place in various sectors for several months to address a social conflict police, transport and hospitals, to compensate the postponement of summer holidays and overtime.

This was announced on January 30 by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin a bonus of up to 1,900 euros for the police officers and gendarmes who work Île-de-France. But in other sectors the issue is not completely resolved.

According to a poll by the conservative newspaper Le Figaro, the restriction of the right to strike during matches is approved by 72.78% of those interviewed and rejected by 27.22%.

The Ministry of Labor assures it “There will be no strike during the Olympic Games.”

The fragile bridges in front of the crowd

As if the threat of strikes were not enough, it is the bridges over the Seine and their strength to resist the crowds that are now in question. There will be the spectacular opening ceremony, above the water. More than 220,000 people will be invited to attend the ceremony free of charge but will be selected.

After the Sully Bridge accident, hit by a ship at the end of Januarythe authorities are carrying out an evaluation of the different Parisian bridges and quays that will host the public and equipment during the nautical parade.

“The objective is to guarantee and develop what is necessary”, underlines the City Council.

This is an important precautionary measure. Why will welcome thousands of spectators and impressive technical installations during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games. The bridges crossing the Seine in the capital are the subject of particular attention from the authorities.

At the moment all these Parisian infrastructures are being inspected, particularly those intended to support the public and facilities. A work carried out by the architects of Bâtiments de France. It must be said that these structures belonging to the City of Paris, some built in the 16th centurythey are not used to receiving so many people at the same time.

On July 26th, more than 100,000 people who purchased tickets to attend the show inaugural on the Seine, they will sit on stands installed on the lower platforms. On the high banks there will be 222,000 lucky beneficiaries of an invitation distributed by the local authorities, distributed on both sides of the waterway, along the 6 km of the procession. And 50,000 installed on the bridges they cross.

At the same time, “a certain number of devices will be installed both on the quays and on the Seine, especially outside the canal. We will have around 25 floating establishments and 35 floating equipment that will be placed,” said Marc Guillaume, prefect of the Île-de-France region in the Senate, on March 5, during the hearing of the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin.

The senior official also returned to the incident of January 31, when, under the Sully bridge, “a boat collided with arch 2, where the bridges go downstream. The assessments are underway to be able to carry out the necessary works before the inauguration ceremony, both to break a cast iron hanging block and to restore the bridge.”

Marc Guillaume wants to reassure: “In any case, we are not in a situation where all this cannot be achieved before the opening ceremony.”

Technical settings

More generally, the city of Paris is also expected to make several “technical adjustments” in the coming weeks. the platforms to celebrate the show created by director Thomas Jolly.

“We discovered his artistic project a few weeks ago”, confirms Pierre Rabadan, deputy mayor of Paris with responsibility for sport. There are a number of reinforcement works that will be carried out between now and the ceremony. The goal is to ensure and organize what should be.”

“But there is nothing dangerous or irremediable”, he clarified.