"Paris Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony Scaled Back for Security and Safety"

The 2024 Olympic opening ceremony in Paris will be scaled back in terms of capacity and ticketing due to security concerns, with 104,000 paying ticket holders and 222,000 free spectators along the Seine River. The free tickets will be invitation-only, with quotas for select residents, sports federations, and others. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin cited various potential threats, including from Islamic extremist groups, and emphasized the need for security measures. The event, featuring a floating parade, is set to take place on July 26 and will be the first Summer Olympics to open outside a stadium.