PARIS, France — With the opening of the Summer Olympics comes a difficult security situation, as Paris turns iconic landmarks into venues that can be tough to keep secure for people going to the games and the athletes taking part in them.
The opening ceremony was only the first real security test, as tends of thousands of people lined the Seine River while athletes floated down the river to the Trocadero and Eiffel Tower.
At the U.S. Olympic Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Nicole Deal, director of Team USA security, said that although Paris is spread out, the city is used to large outdoor sporting events, like the Tour de France.
Olympic organizers have a security plan in place that will close off parts of Paris when events are being held.
"The planning, the logistics, the road closures, the metro stops closures, it’s a logistical feat as well as a security feat," Deal said. "But they are willing to do those metro closures. They are willing to do road closures in order to create a venue-like atmosphere outdoors."
It’s a different challenge than the last two Olympic Games, where COVID restrictions kept athletes isolated and indoors. In Paris, athletes will be free to roam. So, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee set up an emergency app. With one touch, athletes can contact help.
"Literally an athlete can click their delegation app, the SOS button," Deal said. "I get a phone call, someone from my teams gets a phone call."
In fact, everything from physical safety to cybersecurity are being looked at. There's even food security, courtesy of a nutritionist team and food safety team.
The security plan might seem overwhelming, but Deal said she and her team are ready in Paris to keep Team USA safe.
"This is what I was trained to do," she said. "So for you it may be stress, for me it’s a Tuesday."
