Paris trying to avoid 'Ratatouille' at Olympics

While the famous animated movie "Ratatouille" humorously depicted rats, the reality of Paris's rat problem is far from amusing for those who call the city home. With the world's attention soon to be focused on the French capital hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics, officials are concerned that the rodent issue could tarnish the city's image during this prestigious event.
As Paris prepares to host the Games, the city is gearing up for a grand celebration of sports and cultural exchange. However, amidst the excitement, local authorities are determined to keep visitors away from an infamous aspect of Parisian life: its thriving rat population.


"All of the Olympic sites and celebration areas were analysed (for rats) before the Games," deputy mayor Anne-Claire Boux, who has responsibility for public health, told AFP in an interview.
The mayor's team of rodent experts took decisive action to address the issue. In addition to mandating a thorough cleaning to eliminate any food traces that could lure the creatures from their subterranean dwellings, they also focused on sealing off the escape routes from the sewers surrounding the affected areas.
"Where there were areas with lots of rats we put traps in place ahead of the Games," Boux continued, adding that both mechanical rat-traps and chemical solutions were used to reduce troublesome populations.

The area surrounding the Eiffel Tower, which will host the beach volleyball events, and the gardens of the Louvre, where the Olympic flame will be lit, have long been favored locations for picnics. However, these iconic Parisian spaces have also been known to have a significant rat population in the past.
"Ultimately, no-one should aim to exterminate Paris's rats, and they're useful in maintaining the sewers," she added. "The point is that they should stay in the sewers."
Paris vermin, a recurring theme in French literature from 'Les Miserables' to 'the Phantom of the Opera', are often brought into a present-day discussion regarding the cleanliness of the French capital.
Anne Hidalgo, the current Socialist mayor who depends on the support of the Greens, is frequently criticized by her conservative opponents for not maintaining the city free from the plagues of garbage, rodents, and dog waste.

In 2021, a viral social media campaign titled #SaccageParis (#TrashedParis) encouraged residents to share images of overflowing garbage bins, poorly maintained street furniture, and overgrown green spaces that tarnished the city's carefully crafted image of elegance. In response to the criticism, the city unveiled a 'manifesto for beauty'.
With the Olympics approaching, Paris' boulevards and squares have undergone extensive cleaning and many historic buildings have been renovated.
Boux emphasized that rat problems are primarily caused by food left on the ground or overflowing waste bins, many of which are being replaced with new rat-proof versions throughout Paris.
"The most important thing is that the bins are sealed and closed," she said.

The "Smash" team, name given to Paris's rodent control experts, have been providing guidance to the Olympic organizing committee on how to maintain cleanliness and order at their venues. Their advice aims to minimize the attraction of pests and ensure a sanitary environment throughout the event.
During the Olympics, the responsibility of waste management and street cleaning will be shouldered by the city's robust cleaning and collection workforce, consisting of 7,500 individuals. Last year, their three-week strike resulted in an estimated accumulation of 10,000 tonnes of garbage on the streets, highlighting the crucial role they play in maintaining the city's cleanliness.
To compensate for their efforts during the Olympic period, these workers are set to receive bonuses of up to 1,900 euros. Additionally, private contractors will be engaged to bolster the city's cleaning initiatives, ensuring that Paris remains pristine throughout the duration of the games.
"I'm not at all worried (about rats)," deputy mayor in charge of waste, Antoine Guillou, told AFP. "On the contrary, the Games will help us show definitively that this idea that you run into lots of rats in Paris is false.
"There are some, we deal with them, but they're not an issue specific to Paris nor on the scale that is sometimes suggested in a caricatural way," he said.