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00:00 Welcome. The countdown has officially begun. The Olympic Games are coming to Paris in exactly 100 days.
00:10 And in a history-steeped ceremony this morning, the flame was lit in Olympia, Greece. That's the birthplace of the Games.
00:20 The high priestess of the Olympic Games, played by actress Mary Mina, prayed to Apollo, Greek god of the sun, for help in lighting her torch.
00:30 But under a cloudy sky in Olympia, a backup flame was used, which will now remain lit for the duration of the 2024 Games,
00:44 a fire symbolic of the Olympic values of peace and friendship between nations.
00:49 "Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in a peaceful competition."
01:01 This same fire was then used to ignite the French Olympic torch, in the hands of the first of many hundreds of torchbearers,
01:08 rowing's Olympic gold medalist, Stephanos Touskos.
01:12 The torch is now to pass through some of the most iconic sites of ancient Greek civilisation on its Herculanean journey,
01:19 before crossing the Mediterranean for the first time in the history of the Games, on board the Bel-Em, a three-masted centenarian French vessel.
01:28 And reaching land in Marseille, embarking on a seven-week tour of the Olympic host nation,
01:33 and ending its epic voyage in Paris on the 26th of July, for the opening of the Games.
01:41 So, a hundred days to go. The big question now, is Paris ready?
01:46 Well, to try and answer that, Lindsay Krasnoff joins me.
01:49 She's a historian and a journalist, working at the intersection between sports and diplomacy,
01:55 and she divides her time between Paris and the United States.
01:58 Welcome to the programme. Thanks very much for joining us.
02:01 Thank you so much for having me.
02:04 How do you assess the readiness then of Paris, and the level of enthusiasm as well?
02:09 Because frankly, most of the Parisians that I speak to, seem to be planning to leave the city during the Games.
02:16 Yes, there's certainly always a little bit of that in the general conversation leading up to hosting any sporting mega-event,
02:25 whether it's an Olympiad, whether it's a World Cup.
02:28 And I think that what we've been seeing play out in public discourse,
02:32 is a lot of very similar conversations, concerns about will the infrastructure be ready?
02:37 Will this, that be ready? Other related concerns.
02:41 From what I can tell, certainly Paris will be ready.
02:45 The construction is winding down.
02:48 And I think that while there is a lot of, perhaps, hesitancy over the influx of tourists who will be coming for the Games,
02:55 there is a certain degree of pride there as well, to be hosting and welcoming the world.
02:59 And while I know many Parisians who are planning to leave town,
03:05 I know an equal number who are really excited to participate and to see what an open-air Games in their hometown is like.
03:13 You used the word open-air there.
03:15 I imagine in part you're referring to the opening ceremony, which, if all goes according to plan, will take place on the River Seine.
03:24 And again, it's the first time ever an Olympic ceremony has been held not in a stadium.
03:29 So it could be spectacular if it works, couldn't it?
03:33 But there are a number of concerns, logistical and serious security concerns as well.
03:38 Do you think that plan was too ambitious?
03:42 I think it is a, you know, one of the things about hosting these events,
03:46 it's an opportunity to innovate and to dream.
03:49 And I think it's a fantastic plan.
03:51 The reality of pulling that off is far above my pay grade.
03:55 And I think what we'll see in the next several weeks coming up to a head is much more realistic reassessment of if it goes off as planned or if there are a plan B or plan C involved.
04:09 So there are some issues then, security being one of them around those opening, around the opening ceremony.
04:16 What does Paris need to do big picture, you think, to deliver a successful Games on the world stage?
04:24 I think one of the biggest things is communicating the story, not just of the Games and the different reasonings behind having the venues spread out, as well as the open air opening ceremony.
04:36 But also to be very clear, both to locals as well as visitors alike, what that entails, what that means, particularly from a security standpoint.
04:45 What are certain concerns that need to be taken into account in terms of access into certain areas or allowing that extra time and the grace to let everything go through its course?
04:59 Will you be coming here during the Games, if you don't mind me asking?
05:02 I certainly will.
05:03 What are you most looking forward to?
05:06 Hands down, my most anticipated sporting event is the basketball tournament, both the men's and the women's, as well as the three by three tournaments.
05:15 I've just finished a book on basketball and really the globalization of the game has led to what promises to be one of the most super competitive basketball tournaments in all of Olympic history.
05:28 And while there are certain favourites, it's not necessarily a guarantee that this summer that any one team is going to walk away with the gold.
05:36 So I think it's going to bring a lot of competition and because both all of those basketball tournaments are so competitive, it makes it that much more interesting for the fans to have a bit of skin in the game, if you will.
05:51 All right, well, we'll see what happens. I also will be joining you. I'll be watching plenty of those games here in Paris myself.
05:56 good to talk to you, Lindsay Krasnoff. We appreciate it. Thank you.
05:59 Thank you so much.