“No One Is Safe”: Paris Government Alerts America and 205 Other Nations of Disappointing Problem 8 Months Before Olympics
Vaibhav Singh Bisht
9 hours ago

The 2024 Paris Olympics are less than a year away. Starting from late July 2024 to August 2024, the French capital will host around 10,000 athletes from more than 200 countries. In addition to this, there will also be coaches and other staff that will help and support their respective players in multiple Olympics and Paralympics disciplines. However, with just eight months to go for the biggest sporting spectacle in the world, Parisian authorities are already facing one of their biggest challenges.

Paris is currently experiencing an infestation of bedbugs. These pests are being reported all over the city, including households, theaters, and trains. The issue has escalated so much that French President Emmanuel Macron and his government are being urged to provide a solution for this infestation.

The French government is being asked to provide a bedbug solution
Since the Olympic Games will commence in July of next year, Paris’s first deputy mayor, Emmanuel Gregoire, has already requested help from Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne by writing a letter. The first deputy mayor emphasized in his letter that bedbugs are a public health nuisance and should be acted upon swiftly. Gregoire further highlighted that, as France prepares to host the Games, the government should initiate an action plan immediately for this particular pest infestation.


A visualisation of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony is pictured in this undated handout obtained December 13, 2021. Paris 2024/Florian Hulleu/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
According to a report by the Express, in a recent interview Gregoire also said, “You have to understand that in reality no one is safe, obviously there are risk factors but in reality, you can catch bed bugs anywhere and bring them home.” He also stated that the treatment of bedbugs should be covered in home insurance plans and highlighted that this infestation is a widespread phenomenon. The first deputy mayor’s letter and interview seem to have worked as the French government has announced that it will help protect its citizens and visitors from this bedbug problem. However, this is not the first obstacle before the 2024 Olympics, as just last month a swimming competition was canceled in Paris.

French swimming competition canceled ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics
The Open Water Swimming World Cup was set to take place in the French river Seine and was meant to act as a test run event ahead of the 2024 Pars Olympics. Last month, the event was canceled due to pollution and poor quality of water in the Seine. World Aquatics and French authorities stated that due to heavy rainfall in July, the river had become over-polluted and difficult to swim in. However, the Olympic organizers are quite confident that the Seine will be ready to host a number of swimming events along with several triathlon and para-triathlon events ahead of next year’s Olympics.

Read more: Head of Olympics Confirms Paris Will Be the “Safest Place in the World” During 2024 Games

As for Paris’s bedbug problems, citizens and visitors will be hoping that the infestation will be resolved soon. As all eyes are fixed on France and Paris in particular, Parisian and Olympic authorities continue to make maximum efforts for a smooth and eventful 2024 Paris Olympics.