Crowd planning with creativity: Rethinking the opening ceremony

The opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games sets a new standard not only for opening ceremonies of future Games but for crowd movement planning and security standards too. It was an ambitious and complex crowd and security challenge, never before executed at such scale.

Choosing the banks of the Seine River as part of its ‘Games Wide Open’ approach, Paris saw the water-based event attract over 300,000 spectators. Tourists and locals alike watched as athletes floated on boats along the historic river, with a nod to iconic landmarks like the Louvre, Pont Alexandre III and the Eiffel Tower.

Games organisers could have opted for the convenience and lower cost of the Stade de France and its 80,000 capacity. Instead, they went for a more unconventional opening of the Paris Games with an estimated global television audience of about 1.5 billion viewers.

Designed to be more inclusive and accessible, with free viewing areas for 220,000 and ticketed platforms for over 100,000 paying guests, the ceremony showcased Paris's cultural diversity and environmental commitment, profiling used renewable energy sources and 50% recycled materials in the performers costumes.

The complexity of the riverside 'venue' came with a new set of considerations in crowd management modelling. Because the river passes through key points of the city, planners had to consider how the ceremony would affect the daily lives of Paris residents, not all of whom would be in the audience. They also had to manage the influx of an expected two million tourists and spectators and the efficiency of how athletes and key officials could safely take part.

Coupled with this, organisers had to consider the potential for both protests and terrorist activity. The organisers implemented unprecedented security measures, which included:

• Deploying more than 45,000 armed and unarmed local police officers, 10,000 soldiers, 20,000 private security personnel, and an armed support team from the Los Angeles Police Department.
• Erecting 44,000 metal barriers sectioning off areas to be used during the ceremony. For a number of days, residents were allowed access via a QR code system to prove identity.
• Constructing new pedestrian routes to supplement foot traffic.
• Collaborating with public and private cybersecurity agencies to curb cybersecurity threats.
• Using dynamic technology to rehearse quick response scenarios to potential threats.

How did they plan and execute such a massive event? There are three key steps that are essential for any successful crowd and security strategy.

The first step is to conduct extensive research and analysis of the target audience, creating personas and scenarios to anticipate their needs, preferences, behaviours and expectations.

The second step is the design and implementation of a comprehensive operational plan that covers all aspects of the event, from peak conditions at transport hubs, space for crowd flow on the main approach routes, and the need for effective wayfinding and communication.

The operational plan would need to continually adapt, assessing the expected duration of stay and critical peaks of arrival and departure. Additionally, it would need to balance the requirements of different types of spectators with catering and waste management, as well as maintaining space and resources for security, both on land and water, and emergency response. Organisers of Paris's opening ceremony would have planned in advance for the rainy conditions that did end up impacting some aspects of the event.

The third step is to test and adjust the plan based on feedback and data, using simulations, rehearsals and real-time monitoring to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. With an unprecedented security force on duty during the opening ceremony and some 30,000 on call for the duration of the Games, it's a serious and sizeable security challenge.

What can we learn from the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony? It shows us that crowd and security planning is not just about managing risks and problems, but also about creating opportunities and value.

By proactively planning for the diverse and dynamic needs of the audience, the Paris Games organisers delivered a more accessible ceremony that celebrated the Olympic spirit, innovation and, of course, the city of Paris and its people. And by doing so on the water, they set a new model for future major events, focusing on the activation of multiple sites along the river instead of a single stadium – an inspiring start to the Games.

The operational insights from Paris 2024 are not only useful for future host cities Los Angeles and Brisbane, but also for mega-event organisers who are willing to build on the bold lessons learned on the Seine.