The official website of the Paris 2024 Olympics has issued a warning about a surge in fraudulent activities targeting restaurants and catering businesses in France. Individuals and companies are falsely posing as authorized representatives of Paris 2024 and its official hospitality service provider, On Location, attempting to illicitly obtain payments for counterfeit services labeled as Paris 2024, such as the rental of vendor stands at Olympic sites.
To combat these fraudulent activities, Paris 2024 and On Location have filed criminal complaints and urged stakeholders to verify authenticity through specified contacts. As the countdown to the Paris Olympics 2024 continues, organizers are not only dealing with fraudulent activities but are also addressing security concerns. French President Emmanuel Macron recently revealed contingency plans for the Olympics opening ceremony, acknowledging the possibility of relocation in the event of a major security alert. Organizers have heightened security measures in place since October, following a knife attack in northern France.
Paris 2024 is prepared for various risk scenarios, including heatwaves, cyberattacks, and terrorism, with a meticulous security protocol involving private security tenders and plans for 17,000 to 22,000 security personnel daily. Anticipating over 4 billion viewers, 10 million spectators, 20,000 journalists, and 15,000 athletes from 206 countries, Paris 2024 organizers are keenly aware of the risks posed by cybercriminals, hacktivists, and state actors. Despite successfully averting 450 million cyberattacks during the Tokyo Games in 2021, Paris 2024 organizers are preparing for approximately 3.5 billion cyberattacks.
The security protocol also addresses the challenge of misinformation, with French security agencies identifying an Azerbaijani misinformation operation targeting the event’s credibility. As the city prepares to host the Olympics, the delicate balance between safety and spectacle is evident in the meticulous security preparations undertaken by Paris 2024, ensuring a secure and memorable event for participants and spectators alike.
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