The stage was important. By its size and by its actors. The OCOG Paris 2024 drew the curtain on Monday July 17 on the Olympic Games Chefs de Mission seminar. Started on Friday July 14, it brought together more than 350 people, including representatives of nearly 200 foreign countries.
On the program, a long series of talks and presentations on the major issues of the organization, including transport, security and logistics, but also a visit to the village and the competition sites.
Convincing? Salvator Bigirimana (photo below, left), Burundi's head of mission, responded to questions from FrancsJeux.
FrancsJeux : With one year and only a few days to go before the opening, did the COJO Paris 2024 seem on schedule to you?
Salvator Bigirimana : Yes. All signals are green. We already had this impression last month, during a presentation made at the general assembly of the Association of African National Olympic Committees in Hammamet, Tunisia. It was confirmed during the heads of mission seminar. We had questions, the OCOG answered them very clearly. At the aquatic center, which we visited during the Games, the engineers told us that the site will be delivered in March. This is not my first Games, since I started in London in 2012. But I can say today that the preparation is going very well. My fellow mission heads share the same opinion. The COJO team is very experienced. Over the last few days, I have met people I met on the organizing committees for the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games.
Did you have any specific questions for which you were waiting for answers from the OCOG?
The question of visas. In Burundi, it concerns us directly. It was explained to us that a circular had been sent to all French embassies abroad to facilitate our procedures. We really saw that links had been established with foreign countries through embassies. Another question, less expected, concerned arrival at the airport in Paris. The wait at customs was very long, around 2 hours, before being able to pass. We raised the issue. We were told that a terminal at Roissy airport was currently under construction and therefore closed. It will be open next year during the Games. The arrival should be smoother.
Part of Europe, including France, is hit by very hot weather. Is this a concern in view of the Games?
We had very technical explanations on how the buildings of the athletes' village, in particular, were designed to reduce the impact of heat without the need for air conditioning. With the materials used and the ventilation system put in place, it could be between 21 and 23° inside when the thermometer reads 32° outside. In addition, it will be possible to have air conditioning if necessary. The OCOG has also planned certain sessions late in the evening, in boxing for example, to avoid possible extreme heat.
The question of transport is also regularly cited among the subjects of concern…
It's true. She still is at the Olympic Games. But that doesn't worry me. The site map is narrowed. Transportation should be fairly smooth.
Another subject of uncertainty: security. Do you fear that the Games will be disrupted by a tense social climate, or even riots like France has experienced in recent weeks?
Not really. The issue was discussed at length during the seminar. We had presentations made by state officials, including a representative of the Ministry of the Interior. Large numbers of troops will be mobilized, with a call to the police and the army. The recent riots have been mentioned, but I am confident that the Games will not be disrupted. In saying this, I believe I am echoing what my colleagues from other countries think.
Does the opening ceremony on the Seine seem like a good idea to you?
Yes. It promises to be a unique experience, so everyone will want to experience it. I believe that there will be, among all the delegations, an immense desire to discover it and experience it from the inside.
During the heads of mission seminar, what elements of preparation for the Games appealed to you the most?
The dynamism of the organizing committee. And the fact that the IOC teams agree on all points with those of the COJO. This was not necessarily the case in recent editions.
Conversely, what did you remember that was most negative?
Waiting on arrival at the airport. If we had been accompanied by young athletes, like next year for the Games, it would not have been possible. But we got answers on this subject.
