The possibility of reducing the capacity of the opening ceremony has been under consideration for some time. From the 600,000 people cheering on what would have been the Olympic Games for everyone, the games have now diminished to potentially half or even less than half of what was initially expected.

The reduction to two-thirds for security reasons is not insignificant and may well increase in the coming months due to logistical problems. Instead of a grand inauguration that would have been enjoyed by everyone along the banks of the Seine, it is now shaping up to be a much more modest opening.

So far, 100,000 tickets have been sold for the opening of the third games to be held in Paris, and if the capacity is not further reduced, t is estimated that another 300,000 will gather on the banks of the mythical river. This situation did not sit well with the security services, who would have preferred a traditional opening in a traditional stadium, where control measures would have been much easier to implement..

The mega-operation by water, air and land will require no less than 45,000 personnel, n average of 3,750 people per kilometre, to carry out a comprehensive operation. In addition, there will be 2,000 agents to monitor the tents of those who have purchased tickets and law enforcement personnel grouped in various areas of the elevated docks.

The importance of the Opening Ceremony is considerable; it is one of the most watched sporting moments in the world. It has great significance in terms of unity, brotherhood between nations, and the Olympic spirit. Singers, choreographers, dancers, costume designers, lighting technicians, and sound engineers will work together , along with the delegations invited by the IOC to participate.

For the first time, thousands of athletes will take part outside a stadium by parading on 160 boats on the Paris river. These boats, carrying more than 200 delegations of athletes from all over the world, will travel almost six kilometres along the Seine between the Pont d'Austerlitz and the Pont de l'Iena in the heart of Paris, to the cheers and admiration of the paid and unpaid spectators. The opening ceremony will culminate on the Trocadero esplanade, near the iconic Eiffel Tower, a symbol of the City of Light.

With this in mind, one has to ask: was the estimate of 600,000 people for the opening ceremony overly optimistic or unprepared? This was planned before the war in Ukraine and Palestine. Was there an underestimation in launching such an ambitious plan, where the equivalent of six or seven stadiums of people could enjoy the day?

Basically, unforeseen circumstances, changes in the global landscape or underestimation could be the reasons. Whatever the case, the French organisation is now facing a reality check that is prompting it to take a prudent step back from the mega-event for all to a more modest and cautious one.