26-7-2024 (PARIS) In a contentious move that has drawn criticism from human rights activists, hundreds of migrants and homeless individuals were transported out of central Paris on Thursday as part of the city’s preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games. The operation, conducted under heavy police presence, saw people carrying backpacks and young children boarding buses bound for temporary accommodation on the outskirts of the French capital.
This latest relocation effort is part of a broader initiative by French authorities to clear encampments from the city centre in the months leading up to the globally anticipated sporting event. While the government frames these actions as necessary measures to ensure the smooth running of the Olympics, critics argue that they amount to “social cleansing” – a practice that has been controversial in previous host cities such as Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
The displaced individuals, many of whom are of African origin, face an uncertain future as they are moved to temporary lodgings for the duration of the Games. Nikki, a 47-year-old homeless Parisian who requested anonymity, expressed her uncertainty about the situation: “It’s like poker. I don’t know where I will go, or how much time I will stay.”
This mass relocation comes at a time of political turbulence for President Emmanuel Macron, for whom the Olympics represent a crucial moment. However, the Games have faced mounting criticism from Parisians, who have voiced concerns over increased public transport fares and questioned the allocation of resources to projects like cleaning the Seine for swimming events rather than bolstering social support systems.
Nathan Lequeux, an organiser for the activist group Utopia 56, condemned the authorities’ approach: “They want to clean the city for the Olympic Games, for the tourists. As treatment of migrants is becoming more horrible and infamous, people are being chased off the streets. … Since the Olympics, this aggressiveness, this policy of hunting has become more pronounced.”
The controversy surrounding these relocations highlights the complex social and ethical challenges that often accompany major international sporting events. While the French government maintains that these measures are necessary for logistical and security reasons, human rights advocates argue that they exacerbate the vulnerabilities of already marginalised communities.
