The organisers of the Paris Olympics have promised a "great national party", but with just 100 days to go, France's divisive politics and gloomy mood are casting a shadow over the anticipation.
But Cyber attacks, a real concern for Paris 2024, as the Paris Olympics are preparing to face an unprecedented wave of cyber threats, now enhanced by the integration of artificial intelligence, marking a significant shift in their defensive strategy.
However, those involved in the delivery of the Games, most notably chief organiser Tony Estanguet, remains optimistic and are urging their fellow citizens to focus on the positives.
“It’s my role to explain that it's a fantastic opportunity for our country to host this event, to welcome the world and also to showcase what this country can do and achieve. We all know there are always a lot of questions, a lot of concerns before an event of thismagnitude," he told reporters.
Construction progress remains on schedule and the final budget figure will only be known "after the Olympics," said Court of Auditors President Pierre Moscovici, comparing it to the Games in Athens, London or Rio de Janeiro.
During the inauguration of a new Aquatics Centre in early April, French President Emmanuel Macron seemed a little exasperated, expressing frustration at what he perceived as a lack of public and media recognition for the organisers.
"Take a little perspective and look at the history of previous Games," the 46-year-old urged reporters, promising that the Paris edition would make the nation "proud." Instead, France is embroiled in a national debate about identity and race.
Influential far-right politicians have criticised the Games' poster for omitting a Christian cross and denounced the choice of artists for the opening ceremony. The possible appearance of Aya Nakamura sparked controversy among conservatives, with France's culture minister denouncing the criticism as "pure racism."
Meanwhile, the Paris Olympics are preparing to face an unprecedented wave of cyber threats, now enhanced by the integration of artificial intelligence, marking a significant shift in their defensive strategy.
The range of threats is broad, with potential adversaries ranging from criminal groups seeking financial gain to states seeking to destabilise the Games. "Hacktivist" groups driven by ideological motives, individuals involved in gambling schemes, and even athletes themselves pose potential risks to the cybersecurity infrastructure of the Paris Olympics.
"There are so many moving parts that the attack surface is quite large and it's a very serious security challenge," John Hultquist, an analyst at Mandiant Consulting, a cybersecurity consultancy owned by Google, told AFP.
"We're worried about everything from the broadcasters to the sponsors, to the transportation infrastructure, to the logistics and support, to the competitions. Any kind of disruption is on the table," Hultquist said.
Atos, the cyber security and data provider for the Paris Olympics is responsible for the near instantaneous delivery of Olympic and Paralympic Games results to broadcasters and the media during the summer events. The company has confirmed significant annual losses, but assures Paris 2024 that it will not be affected.
NTT, the Japanese company in charge of IT security for the Tokyo Olympics, reported 450 million cyber-attacks during the Games, twice the number of London 2012. France's information systems security agency, Anssi, and the Ministry of the Interior, with support from Comcyber, are responsible for countering these threats.
