As hundreds of boats float elegantly down the Seine at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics this summer, one well-known and loved landmark will be absent. The bouquinistes, antique booksellers who have lined the banks for centuries, will have decamped for the duration of the games. For many Parisians who face the prospect of their city being swamped by almost a million incomers, this is the final nail in the coffin.
Though much of the French population support the Games or are indifferent, Parisians have been quick to complain about the Games’ arrival. Nearly 44 per cent of Parisians thought the Olympics were a ‘bad thing’, according to one survey, while 52 per cent are considering leaving Paris for the duration of the Games. Last summer, as bedbugs rampaged around the city and engineering works disrupted metro lines in the city, it seemed that Paris simply was not ready for a Games it didn’t want.
The Olympics’ organisers are determined that Paris look her best, even if the price is winding up Parisians
Even if the Oympics do go off without a hitch, lots of Parisians won’t be there to see it.
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