4,400 athletes from 184 nations will fight for medals in 22 sports during the Paralympics in Paris from August 28th to September 8th, 2024 – one of them: BMI disabled athlete Cornelia Wibmer. As part of a bilateral deployment, Austria is sending two police dog handlers with explosives detection dogs to the Paris Police Prefecture to support the French border police at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport. This makes Austria one of a total of 28 countries that makes an important contribution to the security of the games.
For the duration of the Paralympics, the French Interior Ministry is setting up an International Cooperation Center where daily intelligence and police briefings for foreign liaison officers will be held. These are carried out by the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN) and the Ministry of the Interior.
Interior Ministry focuses on inclusion
“The Paralympics are not just a major sporting event, but also a very special challenge for the security authorities. I am proud that the ‘Task Force Paris 2024’ is making an important contribution to ensuring that this event can take place without incident, and I wish all athletes much success,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner on the occasion of the opening of the Paralympics on August 28, 2024. The Ministry of the Interior in particular relies heavily on inclusion, emphasized Karner. Just a few months ago, the Ministry of the Interior concluded a cooperation agreement with the Austrian Disabled Sports Association to provide increased support for disabled athletes in security administration.
Karner: “I keep my fingers crossed for Cornelia Wibmer for her handbike competitions in the individual time trial and road race. And also Josef Riegler in wheelchair tennis, who comes from my home town of Texingtal.”
Group and task force leader Günther Marek emphasized the positive feedback from the Austrian police operation during the UEFA Euro in Germany and the Olympic Games in Paris. “The work of the Austrian police officers represents an important building block in strengthening international security and is highly valued internationally,” said Marek. He is convinced that “the 16 police officers will master their tasks in France very well and that the experience they gain will also have a positive impact on major events in Austria.”
Important contribution to bilateral relations between Austria and France
The President of the Austrian Paralympic Committee (ÖPC), Maria Rauch-Kallat, emphasized that the Paralympic Team Austria was welcomed with open arms in Paris and felt safe here. “Our thanks go to the police officers who are working here and contributing to the success and safety of these Paralympic Games. It is a sign of appreciation and inclusion on the part of the Interior Ministry to continue the ‘Task Force Paris 2024’ at the Paralympic Games,” said Rauch-Kallat.
Wolfgang Wagner, Chargé d’Affaires at the Austrian Embassy: “The Olympic Games have already taken place in Paris three times, but this year the Paralympic Games will also be held here for the first time – in the middle of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, also very close to the Austrian Embassy. I am pleased that 24 Austrian athletes have qualified and wish them much success in their competitions. For the success of these games, the safety of the participants, but also that of the fans, is an essential prerequisite. The fact that Austrian police officers support the French security forces is an important contribution of our country to the Paralympic Games, but also to the bilateral relations between Austria and France.”
Indra Loose-Sommer, from the Federal Police Headquarters in Germany, Head of Operations for the 2024 Olympics Coordination Office and Senior Police Director, said: “The German Federal Police already protected the German house in Paris during the Olympic Games. At the Paralympic Games, in the ‘House of Friends’, in addition to ensuring the safety of Team Germany, she will also ensure the safety of Team Austria and their guests in the Austria House. Close cooperation and tradition continue here. There was already the so-called Alpine House at the 2018 Paralympics in Pyeong Chang, which was also protected by the federal police.”
Task Force Paris 2024
The “Task Force Paris 2024” was set up by the Ministry of the Interior with the involvement of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), the Austrian Olympic Committee (ÖOC), the Austrian Paralympic Committee (ÖPC) and Sports Media Austria (SMA). This ensures the safety of the Austrian delegation and the Austrian fans and serves to support the organizing country France in all necessary security measures. Similar to the Olympic Games, an Austria House will also be organized during the Paralympic Games.