PARIS — Fighter jets soared over Paris on Sunday as the annual Bastille Day celebrations coincided with the arrival of the Olympic flame, just 12 days before the start of the Games. This year’s parade had a distinct feel, appearing less militaristic than in previous years. Athletes and Olympic volunteers joined soldiers, medics, and police officers in the festivities.
The Place de la Concorde, the usual endpoint for the Bastille Day procession, has been temporarily closed for the construction of Olympic stadiums. Consequently, the parade was relocated to the Avenue Foch, a shorter and less prominent road near the Arc de Triomphe.
Due to space constraints and security concerns, authorities limited the number of spectators this year to 6,200, who had to register in advance. The ongoing preparations for the Olympics have reduced the availability of police resources, impacting the number of law enforcement officers participating in the parade.
Organizers preserved the traditional air show, with jets releasing blue, white, and red smoke—the colors of the French flag—over the city.
Typically, tanks and planes are the highlight of the annual parade, which this year also commemorated the 80th anniversary of France’s liberation from Nazi occupation. However, this year’s main attraction was the Olympic flame. Col. Thibaut Vallette, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist in equestrian events, carried the torch on horseback down the avenue.
Following the parade, the flame continued its journey through central Paris, where people could watch without needing tickets. Marie Niro, 27, witnessed it near the National Assembly. “It’s a moment that we share, a moment that unites us,” she remarked.
Armored vehicles on display for Bastille Day were placed close to the temporary Olympic venue at Place des Invalides, where a military recruiting event was happening, drawing both young Parisians and tourists.
Marie Niro noted that mixing France’s military parade with the arrival of the Olympic flame was “atypical” but maintained, “we preserve our traditions.”
In the upcoming days, the Olympic torch will travel around the capital region and surrounding areas before returning to the city center for the Opening Ceremonies on July 26 on the Seine.
Sunday marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress in Paris on July 14, 1789, a pivotal event in the French Revolution. This day is celebrated with events throughout France, with the Paris military parade and fireworks at the Eiffel Tower being highlights.
President Emmanuel Macron, along with Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and other cabinet members, attended Sunday’s ceremonies.
Just a week ago, it seemed possible that Macron might have to share power with a far-right prime minister. However, last Sunday’s legislative elections resulted in political stalemate, with no party or alliance securing a majority in the National Assembly.
Despite offering to resign after the election, Attal was asked by Macron to remain in his position for the sake of “stability of the country.”
Macron, now facing a diminished mandate, has been projecting an image of continuity. Last week, he attended the NATO summit in Washington.
Security is a major concern for the organizers of this year’s Olympic Games. The Israel-Gaza conflict has led to bomb scares, an increase in antisemitic incidents, and renewed worries about radicalization. French officials have also expressed concerns about cyberattacks related to tensions with Russia over its war in Ukraine and the bans on Russian and Belarusian athlete delegations.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced Saturday that 3,570 individuals have been barred from attending the Olympics, including “dozens of radical individuals close to Islamist, ultra-left, and ultra-right circles.”
Earlier this year, French authorities aimed to screen more than 1 million people, including coaches, athletes, volunteers, and parade participants. So far, 770,000 people have been screened, Darmanin stated on Saturday.