"Medal Competition Is Not Everything... Concerns Highlighted by Foreign Media: Ddongmul, Terror, Inflation [Paris Olympics]"

As the 2024 Paris Olympics open on the 26th (local time), major foreign media are focusing not only on the participating athletes or medal competitions of each country.

One of the main concerns is whether the so-called 'Seine River Olympics,' which even French President Emmanuel Macron described as "nonsense that has become reality," can proceed without water quality controversies. There are also worries about whether incidents similar to the traumatic 2015 Paris terrorist attacks by the Islamic State (IS) might occur during the Olympics. Additionally, foreign media have reported on the sharp rise in subway fares and major entrance fees, including the Eiffel Tower, dubbing it a "medal-level price hike."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Is the Seine River Clean Enough for Swimming?

The upcoming Paris Olympics will begin in the Seine River. For the first time in Olympic history, the opening ceremony will be held not at the main stadium but on the Seine. It’s not just the opening ceremony; some events, including the triathlon, will take place in the Seine. The organizing committee plans to showcase the Seine, a symbol of Paris, while emphasizing the core value of a 'green Olympics.'

However, as soon as this ambitious plan was announced, global concerns poured in. The Seine, located in the heart of Paris, has been off-limits for swimming since the early 1920s due to water pollution issues. There have even been past reports of crocodiles being found. Foreign media have consistently reported headlines such as "Will they make athletes swim in sewage water?" and "A battle against E. coli."

The French government and the City of Paris have been working to improve the Seine’s water quality since 2015 in preparation for the Olympics. They invested approximately 1.4 billion euros in constructing underground water storage basins, upgrading sewage infrastructure, and enhancing wastewater treatment. Major foreign media outlets, including the Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), have monitored these efforts but noted that as recently as the end of last month, E. coli and enterococci levels in the Seine exceeded safety standards. Swimming in water exceeding these limits could expose athletes to gastrointestinal inflammation, conjunctivitis, otitis externa, and skin diseases.

Fortunately, as the Olympics approach, recent improvements in weather and water purification efforts have led to indicators showing the water now meets swimming suitability standards. To promote these improvements, Am?lie Oud?a-Cast?ra, Minister of Sports, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, and Tony Estanguet, Chair of the Paris Olympic Organizing Committee, held a swimming event in the Seine. Bloomberg News highlighted this, stating, "Paris has declared victory over E. coli," and added, "The Olympics are just the beginning; by next summer, the general public will be able to swim in the Seine. This will mark a victory for the environmental agenda."

However, concerns have not completely dissipated. USA Today pointed out, "Olympic swimmers will dive into the dirty Seine. Would you?" Heavy rain during the Olympics could rapidly degrade the Seine’s water quality. Bloomberg noted, "If even one triathlon athlete vomits, the new image of the Seine will be tarnished again." The New York Post reported, "One of the biggest questions before this Olympics is not who will win the gold medal, but whether the Seine, a symbol of Paris, will live up to expectations during the Games."

"Israelis and Jews Are at Risk"?Repeated Terror Warnings

Concerns about terrorism and security around Paris have been raised since the city was confirmed as the Olympic host in 2017. This is because just two years earlier, Paris suffered one of the worst terrorist attacks in European history. The IS attack claimed over 130 lives. Former French President Fran?ois Hollande confirmed that during the Olympic bid process, International Olympic Committee officials asked whether a safe event was possible.

These concerns persist even as the Olympics near. CNN in the U.S. referenced the 1972 Munich Olympics and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, warning that the Olympics have historically been targets for terrorism. Newsweek reported, "The Paris Olympics will be the greatest security challenge ever." The opening ceremony and events held on the Seine are considered vulnerable to drone and sniper attacks. President Macron’s decision to drastically reduce the number of spectators at the opening ceremony is understood in this context.

This week, terror warnings targeting the Israeli delegation and tourists were confirmed. Amid ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) issued a special statement announcing that "terrorist organizations supported by Iran are plotting attacks against Israelis or Jews (including foreign nationals) during the Olympics." There are fears that a scenario similar to the Munich Olympics, where Palestinian militants infiltrated the Israeli athletes’ village and took hostages, resulting in the deaths of the entire delegation, could be repeated.

The Washington Post (WP) reported, "The Munich Olympics became infamous for terrorism, and now that history casts a shadow over the 2024 Paris Olympics." NDTV stated, "The Paris Olympics could be the most dangerous Olympics in history," citing unstable politics, protests, and internal divisions in France alongside global geopolitical tensions. The outlet added, "The biggest concern is the Islamic terror network," noting potential threats such as hostage-taking, suicide bombings, and explosive devices.

The French government has announced deployment of 45,000 police officers, 10,000 soldiers, and 22,000 private security personnel throughout Paris.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

"The Paris Olympics Are Already Amazing, Especially in Terms of Prices"

Another early notorious aspect of the Paris Olympics is the rising cost of living. The New York Times (NYT) reported earlier this year, "The Paris Olympics have already booked surprises. Prices are one of them," highlighting sharp increases in accommodation, transportation, and dining expenses.

Subway fares have jumped from 2.15 euros to 4 euros, justified by the need to cover increased management costs due to higher ridership during the Olympics. The Eiffel Tower entrance fee rose by 20% starting in June. The Louvre Museum increased its admission fee from 17 euros to 22 euros, a 30% hike. Forbes warned, "Are you going to the Paris Olympics? Prepare for medal-worthy price increases from tickets to meals."

According to Forbes citing Booking.com and others in April, the usual price for a one-night stay at 3- to 4-star chain hotels in Paris, normally between 90 and 200 euros, soared to 400 to 700 euros. Five-star hotels, typically around 300 euros per night, surged to 1,500 euros. Even in relatively affordable areas outside Paris or beyond city limits, one-night rates approached 400 euros. NYT also noted that the average accommodation cost, which was 169 euros per night last year, is expected to rise to 700 euros during the Olympics.

However, these inflated prices appear to be backfiring. Business Times reported this week that "hotel prices in Paris during the Olympics have dropped to nearly half of their peak," suggesting that hotels may have misjudged room demand. According to Lighthouse, the average nightly accommodation price between July 26 and August 11 was 313 euros. While still higher than the average price a year ago (175 euros), it is 41% lower than the peak price 11 months before the Olympics (531 euros). The outlet noted, "There is little willingness to pay huge amounts for the Olympics," and industry experts believe that media reports about heightened security and concerns over city traffic may have influenced visitor cancellations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.