On Wednesday, French police evacuated numerous migrants from the capital city, Paris, in preparation for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
According to Russia’s Sputnik News Agency, a worker from French social services reported that the migrants would be transported by bus to other regions of the country and to buffer zones within the capital area.
This operation marks the final phase of relocating migrants and clearing their camps.
The French capital is set to host the Olympic Games starting from July 26, 2024.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin recently dismissed circulating rumours about the potential cancellation of the Paris Olympic Games due to the country’s political situation, describing it as a manoeuvre to tarnish France’s image and labelling it as “fake news.”
Darmanin stated in an interview with France 2 channel that “there are certain rumours that have spread to tarnish the image of France and the image of the President of the Republic.”
He reminded that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has denied considering the cancellation of the Olympics and will wait until mid-month to make a decision.
Rising travel and accommodation costs, French political disruptions, and security concerns are deterring many sports enthusiasts and visitors from attending the Paris Olympic Games this summer.
Cities awarded the opportunity to host the world’s largest sporting event often do so with expectations of attracting crowds to showcase their capabilities and boost their economies.
However, Paris faces several conflicting factors that have led to reduced bookings. Flight bookings to the French capital, a key indicator of tourist activity, are expected to increase by 10% annually starting July 6th, according to flight ticket data company ForwardKeys.
