As an industry leader in security and intelligence services, Broadstone Risks offers top-tier risk management solutions to protect high-profile individuals and organisations. Our cutting-edge approach to modern threats positions us perfectly to address the security challenges of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The Paris Olympics, set to draw around 3 million visitors and athletes from over 200 countries, pose significant security risks. Despite French authorities deploying tens of thousands of additional security personnel, the potential for disruptive incidents remains high. This report outlines the most likely threats and their potential impact on attendees, leveraging Broadstone Risks' expertise in threat anticipation and mitigation.
Broadstone Risks anticipates a range of protests during the Games, involving political activists, pro-Palestinian supporters, and environmental groups. The central locations of many competition venues increase the likelihood of these protests impacting Olympic travellers.
Recent French elections have already led to significant protests, especially in Paris, with violent clashes between left-wing rioters and police. Although election-related demonstrations may decrease as the Olympics approach, ongoing protests like the Yellow Vest movement and pro-Palestine demonstrations are expected to persist. Environmental groups such as Extinction Rebellion also pose disruption risks, with planned campaigns targeting the Games to maximise international exposure.
Simple Tips for Navigating Political and Social Unrest:
Domestic terrorism remains a primary concern for French law enforcement, particularly from individuals inspired by jihadist ideologies. Recent arrests highlight ongoing risks, including plans to target Olympic venues. Broadstone Risks recognises that the most probable attacks involve lone actors using straightforward methods, such as vehicular assaults or knife attacks. Our strategy focuses on heightened situational awareness and proactive measures to counter these threats.
Simple Tips for Mitigating Extremist Terrorist Threats:
Russia's long-standing grievances with the International Olympic Committee, combined with geopolitical tensions, make the 2024 Paris Olympics a likely target for hybrid warfare tactics. This includes misinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and sabotage. Recent incidents in Paris and other European cities underscore the threat from pro-Russian actors.
According to Google Cloud’s Mandiant cybersecurity team, the 2024 Paris Olympics is facing a spectrum of cyber threats, including espionage, disruption, destruction, hacktivism, influence, and financially motivated activities. "Olympics-related cyber threats could realistically impact various targets including event organizers and sponsors, ticketing systems, Paris infrastructure, and athletes and spectators traveling to the event," Mandiant notes.
Russian threat groups represent a major threat to the Olympics, while state-sponsored threat actors from China, Iran, and North Korea pose a moderate to low risk. The large number of government officials and decision-makers attending the 2024 Olympics may attract the attention of cyberespionage groups. These groups could launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS), defacement, wiper malware, or OT attacks to cause negative psychological effects and reputational damage.
Threat actors are also expected to leverage interest in the Olympics in information operations, promoting narratives and disinformation, sometimes coupled with disruptive and destructive attacks to amplify the spread. Financially motivated threat actors may engage in activities such as ticket scams, theft of personally identifiable information, and extortion to capitalize on interest in the Games, using Olympics-related lures in social engineering operations.
Mandiant assesses with high confidence that Russia poses the most severe threat to the Olympics, given its repeated targeting of previous Olympic Games, its tense relationship with Europe, and recent pro-Russia information operations already targeting France.
Microsoft has also observed a network of Russia-affiliated actors pursuing a range of malign influence campaigns against France, French President Emmanuel Macron, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the Paris Games. These campaigns, attributed to Storm-1679 and Storm-1099 (Doppelganger), include videos and other materials promoting a narrative that terrorist attacks are expected at the Olympics and that Israeli citizens will face violence at the Games. Microsoft expects Russian Olympics-focused malign activity to intensify, expanding predominantly French-language activities to other languages and increasing the use of generative AI to maximize visibility and traction online.
Simple Tips for Mitigating Cybersecurity Threats:
By following these tips, you can enhance your cybersecurity posture and protect yourself from the range of cyber threats expected during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Paris is assessed as a medium-threat location for crime, particularly street crime affecting tourists. Pickpocketing remains the most common issue, with thieves targeting crowded venues and public transportation. Broadstone Risks advises travellers to remain vigilant, avoid resisting theft, and use our specialised security services to mitigate these risks.
Simple Tips for Preventing Pickpocketing:
Significant travel disruptions are expected in central Paris due to road closures, metro station closures, and changes to the bus network around competition zones. Additionally, potential strikes by unionised airport staff could affect air travel. Broadstone Risks recommends using the Transport Public Paris 2024 app for planning and staying updated on transportation changes. We also offer comprehensive travel security solutions to navigate these challenges effectively.
Simple Tips for Managing Transportation Disruptions:
For those attending the Games, having access to reliable emergency contacts and resources is essential. Broadstone Risks provides a range of services, including emergency response planning and on-the-ground support, to ensure the safety and well-being of our clients. Key contacts include:
At Broadstone Risks, our mission is to deliver state-of-the-art security solutions tailored to the unique challenges of high-profile events like the Paris Olympics. Through innovation, vigilance, and a commitment to excellence, we strive to create a safer environment for all attendees.
As you prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, ensure your safety and peace of mind by partnering with Broadstone Risks. Our unmatched expertise in security and intelligence will protect you from the myriad threats associated with such a high-profile event.
