Hosting a large-scale event like the Olympic Games is a source of pride for any city, including Paris. However, it also poses the potential for embarrassment, such as encountering rats on the city’s streets. Despite its glamorous reputation, Paris, like many other large metropolises, is home to a significant rat population due to its extensive and aging sewer system.
The primary goal of Parisian authorities is to keep these rats out of sight during the Games to maintain the city’s image.
The authorities in Paris have been diligently working to ensure that rats stay confined to the sewers, particularly in Olympic sites and celebration areas. Deputy Mayor Anne-Claire Boux, responsible for public health, mentioned that all Olympic venues were analyzed for rat presence before the Games.
Paris Takes Steps to Hide Rats During the Olympic Games
The aim is not to exterminate the rats but to manage their visibility, ensuring they remain out of human sight while the world watches Paris.
Rats play a role in the urban ecosystem, acting as auxiliaries in waste management within the sewers. Despite their benefits, rats are also known carriers of parasites that pose health risks to humans. This duality makes the subject of rat control in cities like Paris somewhat controversial.
Nevertheless, with an estimated 1.5 to 1.75 rats per inhabitant, Paris ranks among the top ten most rat-infested cities globally, according to the National Academy of Medicine.
To prepare for the international visitors, Parisian officials have undertaken extensive cleaning efforts. This involves removing food remnants from public spaces, ensuring trash bins are properly maintained, and securing any garbage that could attract rodents.
Additionally, measures have been taken to seal exit points from the sewers near key Olympic sites, such as the park behind the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Gardens, both previously known for rat infestations.
The hope is that these efforts will be effective and that no rats will be visible during the live broadcasts of the Olympic events. The comprehensive cleaning and preventative measures aim to present a clean and welcoming image of Paris to the global audience, avoiding any potential embarrassment from unexpected rodent appearances.
