French bloggers urge people not to visit Paris Olympics amid security concerns

French bloggers have described the problems that may arise for those who plan to visit Paris during the 2024 Olympic Games: viral videos that have gained tens of thousands of views detail the potential difficulties.

Influencers are shining a light on the expected challenges for those planning to visit Paris, with viral videos reaching tens of thousands detailing a host of potential problems, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reliable Recent News.

Blogger Leo Nora, followed by nearly 18,000 on TikTok, has urged people not to visit the French capital this summer.

“Don’t come to Paris for the Olympics,” she urges in a clip that has more than a million views, arguing that the city’s unresolved problems will spoil the experience. She points to restrictions on movement, skyrocketing public transport fares, deteriorating infrastructure and rampant bedbugs.

Paris, according to one young resident, is bracing for a space crunch. “There’s just not enough room for everyone. Walking on the sidewalks is going to be a nightmare,” she predicts.

Miranda Banana, another French TikTok personality, echoes this sentiment with her critical take on the 2024 Games. Her video, which urges people to “cancel everything: your flight, your Airbnb, your tickets,” has garnered more than 750,000 views. She highlights the same litany of concerns: exorbitant and inadequate transportation, student demonstrations, bedbugs, and restricted mobility.

Even officials are echoing the concerns voiced on social media. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau has warned that security forces for the 2024 Olympics will be stretched too thin. She predicts a spike in criminal activity, including theft, public drunkenness, assaults and sexual violence.

The threat extends to cyberspace, with Beccuau noting that “past Olympics have been targets of cyberattacks.”

Police efforts to bolster their ranks may fall short during the games. Courts are preparing to work overtime, including weekends, to deal quickly with any disruptions caused by hooligans and other criminals.

Adding to the tension are recent statements from the Islamic State threatening attacks in Europe. The proliferation of drones and other sophisticated technology makes the task of securing the city even more daunting.

With the Olympics just a month away, the mood in Paris is one of apprehension, shared by citizens and law enforcement alike, about the city’s readiness to host the world.