There is a multitude of individuals globally eagerly anticipating the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, scheduled to commence later this month. What is on the horizon?
- Countless television viewers across the globe
- 350,000 hours of TV broadcast
- Myriads of spectators
- 329 events
- 32 sports
- 19 days of competition (featuring handball, football, and rugby starting from July 24)
- 35 venues
- 10,500 athletes
- 20,000 accredited journalists
- Over 45,000 volunteers
- More than 600,000 meals provided at the Athletes’ Village daily
However, beyond the excitement and preparations of athletes and fans, the French national government, the city of Paris, and numerous supporting organizations worldwide have been actively engaged in developing the infrastructure to facilitate the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, set to begin with the opening ceremony on July 26.
ESSENTIAL IMPORTANCE OF CYBER SECURITY
In a previous announcement in May, Reuters stated: “Paris 2024 gearing up to face unprecedented cybersecurity threat”:
“Paris 2024 is preparing to tackle a massive cybersecurity challenge, anticipating significant pressure on the Games this summer. Organized crime, activists, and states are expected to pose the primary threats during the Olympics from July 26 to August 11 and the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.
“Paris 2024, collaborating closely with the French national agency for information security (ANSSI), alongside cybersecurity firms Cisco and Eviden, is striving to minimize the impact of cyber intrusions.”
Similarly, the World Economic Forum recently spotlighted concerns about the Paris Summer Games and indicated that experts are raising alarms regarding cyber threats:
“In response, the Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the official organizing body of the games, has partnered with major technology firms and governmental bodies to counter the cyber threats.
“The Games are confronting an unparalleled level of threat,” remarked Vincent Strubel, the director general of ANSSI, France’s cybersecurity agency. “However, we have undertaken an extraordinary amount of preparatory work, so we believe we are ahead of potential attackers.”
On July 4, 2024, Politico published an article titled, “US offering support to help shield against cyber and disinformation assaults on Paris Olympics”:
“French authorities have expressed fears about cyber and disinformation attacks predominantly linked to Russia unfolding before the games.
“The Biden administration is assisting French authorities in defending against potential cyber and disinformation hazards ahead of the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Paris, given rising concerns about Russian attempts at interference. …
“This support encompasses intelligence exchange and direct cyber assistance between the U.S. and France, with a heightened need following malign interference linked to Russia in previous Olympic Games over the past decade.”
BROAD VIEW ON SECURITY CHALLENGES
Recently, Crisis 24 mentioned the top five security concerns:
- “Terrorism — The danger of isolated terrorist attacks is a substantial worry. French authorities are concentrating on counterterrorism measures, aided by nearly 20,000 troops under Operation Sentinelle. …
- Cybersecurity is a Central Focus — Threats vary from espionage and disruptive activities to financially driven attacks and disinformation campaigns. …
- Crime and Public Safety — Crime levels in Paris are relatively low, but a temporary uptick in minor thefts and opportunistic crimes is expected during the Games. …
- Civil Unrest and Demonstrations — Work stoppages by labor unions, while not definite, pose a potential risk of interruption. …
- Environmental and Health Hazards — Paris enjoys mild weather, yet possible environmental pitfalls comprise heatwaves, air quality concerns, and water contamination. …”
IDC delves deeper into these threats, summarized here:
“Paris 2024 will mark the most interconnected Games ever, encompassing various sectors such as back-end systems, financial setups, essential national infrastructure, urban infrastructure, sporting technologies, broadcasting technologies, and merchandising and ticketing. Though the primary risk is evident for venues and other assets associated directly with the Games, the risk extends outward, and even apparently unrelated assets could fall under attack, including crucial national infrastructure and numerous French businesses. Beyond France, IDC anticipates an increase of $57 million in security services revenue across the rest of Europe in 2024 due to Paris hosting the Olympic Games.
“‘Cybercriminals are exploiting global sporting events like the Olympics to tailor new specific threats aimed at businesses and citizens, understanding that their targets are often distracted and susceptible to social engineering,’ mentioned Richard Thurston, research manager at European Security Services at IDC.
“‘We forecast an unprecedented surge in threats during the Paris Olympic Games, supporting a variety of financial and political motives targeting not solely the Olympic Games but also unassociated organizations,’ Thurston continued. ‘Fortunately, numerous entities in France have accelerated their efforts to bolster their cybersecurity resilience ahead of the Games. Moreover, the Local Organizing Committee is collaborating with various highly skilled cybersecurity firms to diminish risks to the Games themselves.’”
Additionally, this video showcases an interview with the CEO of Arctic Wolf concerning the Paris Olympics 2024, addressing the mounting risk of cyber incursions. It touches on cyber threats to supply chains, the importance of the global platform, nation-state cyber operations, and AI as a potential avenue for attack and as a tool for defense against anticipated malevolent actors, such as rogue states and criminal syndicates.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Numerous visitors and onlookers from the U.S. will undoubtedly have the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in mind, as Los Angeles is poised to host the Summer Olympic Games in four years.
Undoubtedly, as underscored by the BBC, there will be an unprecedented level of readiness, collaboration, and information exchange among corporations and entities on various fronts in Paris in the coming months, with cybersecurity forming an increasingly integral part of that mosaic.
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