Some French businesses' revenues are dropping ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics

  • 2 months ago

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00:00Red zones, grey zones. Ahead of the Olympic Games, Paris is a patchwork of restricted areas.
00:06Only people with Olympic accreditation can access the Seine, where the opening ceremony will take place on Friday.
00:15An Olympic press pass and matching ID opens the gate.
00:21But many people are caught unawares.
00:30The Ile Saint-Louis, the posh urban island in the heart of Paris, is normally a big draw for visitors,
00:39but at the moment it's completely surrounded by barriers.
00:42The usually thronged streets are empty, as are the shops.
00:55I think I'll close early. As you've seen, the streets here are practically deserted.
01:00Do you have room on the terrace?
01:02Of course.
01:03We have the choice, right?
01:05Despite this restaurant's desirable view of Notre-Dame Cathedral, customers are sparse.
01:13Normally, this table is the prime location. It's really a fantastic spot.
01:18But now we have these barriers, which is a lot less sexy.
01:22There are definitely some places that are benefiting and others that are losing out.
01:27But the few pedestrians are enjoying the peaceful streets.
01:30Only people with a special queue or code can get past the barriers.
01:35It's thanks to my mother, who lives on the Ile Saint-Louis, so we were able to apply for a pass.
01:40We're staying here for the holidays.
01:44It's quiet. There's less noise, less pollution, it seems. It's really pleasant.
01:48With the lack of customers, many businesses have closed their doors until after the Olympic opening ceremony.

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