Tourists looking to sunbathe in the French capital this summer will have to show a QR code on their smartphones to move around the city and request special passes to access certain areas.
Special measures for the upcoming Olympics in Paris, which run from July 26 to August 11, will include security officers at checkpoints around popular areas and scanning codes that require proof of identity.
The controls will mainly limit movement in certain areas, but pedestrians will also have to register to access the area around the Seine River, where the opening ceremony will take place.
The measures are reminiscent of the ‘Covid pass’ measures adopted during the pandemic, which required people to register at venues via an app and raised concerns about the stripes of European populations without access to a smartphone.
It comes at a time of heightened sensitivity for France following a series of terrorist threats across the country in recent weeks, and the raising of the national security alert to its highest level following a terrorist attack in Moscow in March.
Up to 45,000 French police and gendarmes will currently be deployed each day during this summer’s Olympic Games, while 18,000 soldiers are also expected to be mobilized, according to government figures.
Archive photo. France was placed on its highest security alert after the Crocus Hall attack in March.
Residents and travelers will be subject to controls in areas surrounding the Olympic Games
Applications for the Pass Jeux (game pass) opened today and require applicants to verify who they are by sharing basic contact details, a postal address, an email address and an ID photograph.
Those planning to travel through the zones in a vehicle will also need to register their vehicles and present separate proof of vehicle registration.
The official website Explain Those traveling on foot, by bicycle or scooter will only need a pass to access the immediate perimeter of the event between July 18 and 26, until 1 p.m.
From then on, access will be reserved anyway for those who have tickets to the Olympic Games.
Those traveling by motorized vehicles, including cars and motorcycles, will need a pass to access the same area, as well as an exemption.
They will also need a pass to access a separate “red” perimeter around the Olympic and Paralympic sites, and around the city cycling event, also subject to an exemption.
Most areas of the city are not subject to zoning markings and will not require game passes for travel.
Children under 13 years of age are also not subject to the Games Pass.
Within a “black perimeter”, which will be implemented only during large events, organizers warn that local residents “may be affected” by controls “from time to time”.
“To access this perimeter, searches and searches of bags and luggage are organized,” explains the police. border.
France raised its security threat level in October after a teacher was killed in a knife attack at a school in Arras, northern France.
European security officials continue to warn of possible clashes related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
And last month, Islamic State appeared to call for attacks on Champions League matches in Paris.
A post shared on social media showed images of Paris’s Parc des Princes, London’s Emirates Stadium and Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu with the words “kill them all” superimposed before the quarterfinals.
ISIS also claimed responsibility for an attack in Moscow in March, which left 144 dead and raised security concerns across Europe.
Police will form checkpoints to scan QR codes for those planning to enter certain areas
The Games Pass opened to the public for applications on Monday, May 14.
The head of the Paris Olympic Games assured that an “unprecedented” security operation is underway and that preparations are in “good condition.”
‘I would like to assure you that it is non-negotiable. Safety is the priority,” said Tony Estanguet. BBC sport in April.
‘It is the biggest event France has ever organized and we want to show the best of France. “We are definitely determined to be prepared.”
The opening ceremony is still on track to take place outside the Trocadéro Gardens in the capital, near the Seine, although President Macron has previously suggested the venue could be moved if the risk is deemed too high.
An extensive FAQ section shared online detailed plans for security at the site, including airport-style restrictions on bringing liquids into competition venues.
Those who carry water will be asked undergo a “taste check” before entering.
And those who leave a place are also warned that they will not be able to re-enter after leaving.
