French government sources revealed on Friday an unusual request made by Paris to around 45 foreign countries as part of its preparations for hosting the Olympic Games.
France has asked foreign countries to contribute several thousand soldiers, police officers, and civilians to assist in securing the Olympic Games, which will take place in Paris this summer.
A French military official, quoted by Reuters, stated, “The security context, particularly in recent weeks, means there is heightened vigilance regarding the security of these Olympic Games.”
While it is common to invite foreign police assistance to manage the presence of large numbers of visitors during international sporting events, it is rare to request military assistance.
France plans to deploy around 45,000 police officers and security forces, along with 20,000 private security personnel, and approximately 15,000 military personnel each day to secure the event. Millions of sports enthusiasts and tourists are expected to be in the country for several weeks during the peak of summer.
