Paris 2024: Nearly 100 Barred on Espionage Fears
French authorities, citing security concerns over potential espionage, have denied entry to the 2024 Olympics for fewer than 100 foreign nationals.
These individuals, including journalists, physiotherapists, and technical staff, had planned to work at the Games. The nationalities in question include Russia, Belarus, and several others, but specifics were not disclosed by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.
Darmanin elaborated that while a traditional terrorist attack was unlikely, these individuals could pose a threat through cyberattacks after gaining access to critical networks. He further explained the decision to bar some journalists, stating, "We have refused a significant number of journalists from Russia who claimed they intended to provide media coverage of the Games. Conversely, Russians affiliated with the International Olympic Committee have been permitted to attend."
French authorities reportedly screened a staggering 960,000 people intending to attend the Olympics, including even water vendors, to vet for potential security risks. This meticulous vetting process identified and excluded a total of 4,340 individuals. Among those excluded were 19 individuals on a watchlist for terrorist radicalization, 139 on a state security threat list, 257 radical Islamists, 181 far-left activists, and 95 representatives of far-right organisations.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
