Paris 2024 Summer Games: Our Recommendations to Protect Your Workforce

Social and Political Unrest

Protests and riots are common occurrences in France, with more than 16,000 demonstrations recorded across the country between January 2022 and January 2024, more than any of its neighbouring countries. These demonstrations range from localised rallies in rural towns to those that draw hundreds of thousands of participants in urban centres. They can for example be triggered by changes to legislation, price increases or the government’s foreign policy stance.

The European Parliamentary Elections on 9 June triggered the dissolution of the National Assembly by President Emmanuel Macron and the call for snap legislative elections on 30 June and 7 July, in light of the far-right’s strong results. As a consequence, France has entered an unprecedented period of political uncertainty. The far-right party's leading position has prompted numerous anti-far-right groups to demonstrate across France throughout June and into July. More recent results reveal that the left-wing has mobilised in an effort to defeat them, however the outcome leaves France facing the prospect of a hung parliament, which could lead to further political frustration and unrest. The final composition of the government is yet to be determined as France now faces the prospect of weeks of political machinations to determine who will be prime minister and lead the National Assembly.

The current Israel-Hamas conflict has also had repercussions on France’s socio-political environment. In recent months, France has seen a surge in pro-Palestinian protests since 7 October, driven by the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. While most of these protests have been peaceful, some have resulted in clashes with law enforcement, reflecting the heightened tensions surrounding the issue. Furthermore, the Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF), the political representation of the organised Jewish community, reports an increase in antisemitic acts in France since the security escalation in Israel. According to their statistics, 366 anti-Semitic incidents have been recorded in France in the first trimester of 2024, representing a 300% increase compared to the first three months of 2023. As the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip deteriorates further, further demonstrations are expected during the Games, including protests against Israel’s participation.
Source: ACLED

Recommendations

• If you are due to travel in the vicinity of a demonstration, reconfirm the status of routes before setting out, plan journeys bypassing demonstrations, and allow additional time for travel.
• Ensure your workforce can access credible, timely and verified information sources to pre-emptively plan for possible rallies.
• Abide by all official directives the authorities give, including the police and security forces.

Strikes

Strikes are an equally persistent feature of the in-country operational environment, with France being one of the most strike-prone countries across the continent. Public sector workers, particularly those in transport unions, have caused significant travel disruption in recent years, impacting metro lines, intercity trains and flights. For example, CGT-RATP, the primary public transport union, has pre-emptively filed a strike notice to run throughout the Games until 9 September. Walkouts by RATP members would result in cancellations and delays to public transport in Ile-de-France and Paris. The strike organisers are demanding salary increases and a reduction in working hours. Similarly, the municipal police collective has filed a nationwide strike notice from 14 July to 15 August, which could pose significant challenges for the Games’ security. Although strike notices are, for the meantime, only a warning, failed negotiations would increase the likelihood of such action. The government, however, will strongly endeavour to avoid such an outcome.

Recommendations

• Managers should monitor local news for information on industrial action, including negotiations between unions and the government.
• If a strike is called, your workforce should reconfirm bookings with the relevant service providers. In the event of cancellations or delays, your travel agent can assist with alternative arrangements.
• Plan itineraries accounting for possible service disruption. Depending on your route, consult the SNCF, RATP, suburban rail network (Transilien, Intercites), Eurostar, Thalys or TGV Lyria websites for up-to-date schedules.

Petty Crime

Paris crime rates are low, however, like most major cities, petty crime is a risk to both locals and foreign visitors. The central tourist areas and major transportation hubs all suffer from higher concentrations of petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching. In the Games’ context, traditional tourist crime hotspots near competition venues will be heavily secured, likely reducing crime in those areas. However, it is anticipated that crime may increase in new zones outside of the Games' security apparatus influence, particularly around low-cost accommodation areas far from the event locations and lacking the enhanced security measures of the Games.

Recommendations

• Exercise increased situational awareness at all times, particularly in tourist hot spots and on public transport.
• Run personal training and safety awareness courses with the workforce planning to visit the Games, ensuring they know common scam and theft tactics.
• Conceal valuable items, including jewellery and mobile phones.
• Consider carrying cash in a hidden travel wallet.
• In the event of having your belongings stolen, inform the authorities immediately and request a receipt from the police.

Terrorism

There is a credible risk of terrorist activity by Islamist militants, particularly in urban centres, whether stemming from organised groups or lone actors, as the Games represent a high-value target. The symbolic nature of the occasion, the volume of people attending, and the countrywide spread of events all serve as factors that increase the likelihood of it being the focus of militancy.

Since 2015, the French government has introduced several counter-terrorism measures and the country's three-level Vigipirate security plan is regularly activated, enabling law enforcement to act according to the threat level. Following the incident in Moscow (Russia) on 22 March 2024, the Government decided to raise the Vigipirate level to its highest level. Recently, two planned security breaches, including one specifically targeting the Summer Games, were foiled on 21 and 22 May in Bordeaux and Saint Etienne, respectively. The highest Vigipirate security level will remain in place before and during the Games, as this enables enhanced security measures.

Heat Waves

France has suffered from extreme heat waves recently; 2023 was no exception, with several broken temperature records. The southern regions tend to be the worst impacted. However, Paris did experience temperatures greater than 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). Wildfires have also affected the country, primarily in the south, and led to short-notice evacuations and road closures.

Recommendations

• Align the accommodation and facilities with the business traveller's profile, considering the need for air conditioning.
• Follow the authorities' advice and monitor Meteo-France’s website for weather warnings. Drink plenty of fluids.
• Minimise time in the sun, especially during the hottest hours of the day.
• Avoid excessive physical activity. Defer physical activities as much as practically possible until it is cooler.
• Follow evacuation orders if in the vicinity of a wildfire and reconfirm the status of routes before setting out. Liaise with local contacts to plan journeys bypassing affected areas and allow additional travel time due to potentially lengthy detours.
• For further information, visit our page on safeguarding your workforce in high heat conditions.

How International SOS Can Help

Despite the aforementioned risks, adequate preparation and comprehensive forethought should serve to mitigate the majority of threats. Managers should, among other things, consider delivering awareness and training sessions, activating monitoring and alert systems, and detailing emergency and crisis plans.

For almost 40 years, International SOS has been at the forefront of supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of our clients’ workforce across the globe. We have been providing 24/7 medical, security and travel assistance and on-the-ground support to our clients during similar-scale sports events in Brazil, Japan, Poland, Qatar, South Korea, the UK and other countries. Our EventSafe service provides organisations with the tools to input a support and safety plan that considers challenges such as accessing quality medical resources, mitigating health and security risks, staying informed about local regulations, finding suitable medical care, and navigating cultural differences.

International SOS has an Assistance Centre and a security team in Paris and maintains an accredited network of logistics, security, and medical providers, supporting more than 9,000 clients’ workforces from multiple industries and corporate sectors. Visit our official page for all updates pertaining to the Games, here.

To provide additional support to your organisation’s risk management during the Games, International SOS will be producing a dedicated Daily Threat Monitoring service on the current and projected threat environment. These daily reports enhance standard security by providing hyper-localised, time-sensitive, and tactical information on the current security situations. They contain the most recent significant incidents and the upcoming events susceptible to have an impact on organisations. This is rendered possible by International SOS’ on the ground presence, and a dedicated monitoring and analytical team.

For more insights into the upcoming Games and how you can best prepare your organisation, International SOS clients can download the full Insights Report in ManagerView, with further advice on:

• Activism.
• Security and reputational impact.
• Strikes impacting the Games.
• Terror-related threats.
• Detailed information on crime hot spots and areas and arrondissements to avoid.
• Concerns for LGBTQ+ travellers.

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