French military to contribute 15,000 soldiers to massive security operation for Paris Olympics

 

France’s military is planning to contribute 15,000 soldiers to the massive security operation for next year's Paris Olympics, an army general involved in the preparations said Thursday.

The bulk of the military force — nearly 10,000 troops — will be deployed in the Paris region, where most Olympic events will be concentrated, said Gen. Christophe Abad, the military governor of Paris who serves as military adviser to the French capital's police chief.

Military forces will also be employed for the games as far as 15,000 kilometers (nearly 10,000 miles) away in Tahiti, where navy vessels will safeguard the venue there for Olympic surfing.

In Paris, a temporary military camp for 5,000 troops will be set up in a park in the southeast of the capital, putting the force close to the city's Olympic sites, Abad said.

The security operation for the July 26 to Aug. 11 Olympics, and Paralympic Games that follow, is unprecedented in scale for France. Tens of thousands of police officers and private security staff are also being deployed. New legislation has also allowed the temporary use next year of cameras combined with artificial intelligence software to scan for security problems. Critics fear the Olympic security will erode privacy and civil liberties permanently.

In the skies, the French military is also planning to deploy Reaper surveillance drones and AWACS airspace-monitoring planes, fighter jets, airborne refueling planes and helicopters that can carry sharpshooters and equipment to disable drones.

The military force of 15,000 nationwide will incorporate 7,000 troops already deployed on anti-terrorism patrols at transport hubs and other busy or sensitive sites, including places of worship, Abad said. The military could also be called upon to contribute additional troops if Paris Games organizers fall short in their efforts to recruit more private security staff.

The military's Olympic preparations include training exercises to hone its readiness for potential crises during the games. Abad said that during war games this month, he and other officials tested their capabilities for dealing with a terrorist threat, a plane crash, an attack using drones, a severe heat wave and a chemical spill.

Source: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/french-military-to-contribute-15000-soldiers-to-massive-security-operation-for-paris-olympics/3395433/

Comprehension

Where will most of the military force be deployed for the Paris Olympics?
How many soldiers will be contributed by France's military for the security operation?
What is the main purpose of the temporary military camp in Paris?
What is the total number of troops that will be used for the Olympics and Paralympic Games?
How far away will military forces be deployed for the games in Tahiti?
What kind of vehicles and equipment will be used by the French military for the Olympics?
How many troops will be used for anti-terrorism patrols during the games?
What is the purpose of the training exercises held by the military for the Olympics?

Discussion

How does the scale of the security operation for the Paris Olympics compare to other previous editions?
What challenges do you think the French military and police forces will face during the games?
How do you think the use of technology, such as cameras and artificial intelligence, will impact the security operation?
What measures do you think are necessary to ensure a safe and secure environment for the athletes and spectators during the games?
How do you think the deployment of military forces in Tahiti will contribute to the overall security of the games?
What kind of impact do you think the temporary military camp in Paris will have on the city and its residents?
How do you think the French military's training exercises will help them be prepared for potential crises during the games?
What lessons do you think can be learned from the Paris Olympics security operation that could be applied to future events?

Vocabulary

Unprecedented- Never before seen or experienced.
Temporary military camp- A temporary base or facility set up for a limited time.
Deploy- To send or move troops to a specific location for a particular purpose.
Surveillance drones- Unmanned aerial vehicles used for monitoring and observing activities.
AWACS- Airborne Warning and Control System, a type of aircraft used for monitoring airspace.
Fighter jets: Aircraft designed for air-to-air combat.
Airborne refueling planes - Aircraft equipped to refuel other aircraft while they are in flight.
Sharpshooters - Soldiers or law enforcement officers who specialize in precision shooting.
Civil liberties - The rights and freedoms of individuals that are protected by law.
Terrorist threat - A situation in which there is a serious and immediate threat of terrorism.
Chemical spill - A release of chemicals, which can be hazardous and require cleanup or containment.