Up to 25,000 police officers will be mobilized for the Paralympic Games

Country. Up to 25,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed to ensure security during the Paralympic Games in Paris from August 28 to September 8, outgoing Interior Minister Géral Darmanin announced on Tuesday.

“The maximum number of police officers will be 25,000 in Ile de France and Châteauroux,” where the shooting tests will take place, the minister said at a press conference.

“We will have the support of the three intervention forces” (BRI, Raid, GIGN) with 300 personnel and “10,000 private security agents,” said Darmanin, who noted that there had been no “clear threat” against these Games.

The security of “sensitive” delegations, such as Israel, “will be taken care of in the same way as at the Olympic Games,” said Darmanin, who explained that Israel will have 27 athletes, two referees and the president of the Paralympic Committee who will be “permanently protected.”

Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris Games organising committee, welcomed the decision to maintain “the level of mobilisation to ensure the safety of the Paralympic Games torch relay”.

The Paralympic opening ceremony will take place on 28 August on the Place de la Concorde and will also be directed by Thomas Jolly (like the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games). The Swede Alexander Ekman will be in charge of the choreography for the 150 dancers, of whom around twenty will be disabled people.

These Paralympic Games will coincide with the return in September of both schools and political life, which is pending the formation of a new government.

While in Paris transport in general, and in particular the metro – old and not very accessible – is a black spot in the reception of people with disabilities, the outgoing Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castera assured that “more than 65 stations are accessible.”