There is a sense of eagerness among the global population as we approach the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games which are set to kick off later this month. What can we expect?
- Countless television viewers worldwide
- 350,000 hours of TV broadcast
- Multitudes of spectators
- 329 events
- 32 sports
- 19 days of competition (handball, football and rugby events will commence from July 24)
- 35 venues
- 10,500 athletes
- 20,000 accredited journalists
- 45,000 volunteers
- Over 600,000 meals served at the Athletes’ Village daily
However, it’s not just the athletes and fans who are eagerly preparing. The national government of France, the city of Paris, along with numerous supporting organizations from across the globe, have been diligently working on bolstering the infrastructure to facilitate the 2024 Summer Olympic games, with the commencement ceremonies scheduled for July 26.
ESSENTIALITY OF CYBER PROTECTIONS
A prelude back in May of this year, as per Reuters: “Paris 2024 gearing up to face unprecedented cybersecurity threat”:
“Preparations for Paris 2024 are well underway to confront an unparalleled cybersecurity challenge, with organizers anticipating immense pressure on the Games this summer. The primary threats during the July 26-Aug. 11 Olympics and the Aug. 28-Sept. 8 Paralympics are expected to come from organized crime, activists, and states.
“The Paris 2024 organizing committee, in collaboration with the French national agency for information security (ANSSI), as well as cybersecurity firms such as Cisco and Eviden, are actively working to mitigate the repercussions of cyber assaults.”
Providing a similar perspective, the staff of the World Economic Forum recently raised concerns about the Paris Summer Games, asserting that experts are warning about cyber threats:
“In response, the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the official organizing body of the games, has joined forces with prominent technology companies and government bodies to counteract the cyber threats.
“The Games are confronting an unprecedented level of threat,” remarked Vincent Strubel, the director general of ANSSI, France’s cybersecurity agency. “However, we’ve undertaken an unprecedented amount of preparatory work, and hence, I believe we are one step ahead of potential attackers.”
On July 4, 2024, Politico published an article entitled, “US assisting to fend off cyber and disinformation attacks on Paris Olympics”:
“French authorities are expressing concerns about cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, largely originating from Russia, advancing before the games.
“The Biden administration is extending support to French authorities to safeguard against potential cyberattacks and disinformation threats during the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Paris, amid growing worries that Russia might attempt interference. …
“This support encompasses intelligence sharing and direct cyber assistance between the U.S. and France, actions that have become increasingly crucial following malign interference linked to Russia in previous Olympic Games over the last decade.”
BROADENED OUTLOOK ON SECURITY THREATS
In recent times, Crisis 24 articulated the top five security considerations:
- “Terrorism — The menace of lone-wolf terrorist attacks is a significant apprehension. French authorities are emphasizing counterterrorism measures, with Operation Sentinelle deploying close to 20,000 troops. …
- Cybersecurity receives Significant Attention — The range of threats spans from espionage and disruptive operations to financially motivated attacks and misinformation campaigns. …
- Crime and Public Safety — While crime rates in Paris are relatively low, a temporary surge in petty theft and opportunist crimes is anticipated during the Games. …
- Civil Unrest and Demonstrations — Labor unions taking industrial actions, though not guaranteed, present a potential disruption hazard. …
- Environmental and Health Risks — Paris boasts a mild climate, but potential environmental risks encompass heat waves, air quality concerns, and water contamination. …”
IDC presents a comprehensive examination of these threats, with this synthesis:
“Paris 2024 is poised to become the most interconnected Games ever, encompassing but not limited to back-of-house systems, financial systems, critical national infrastructure, city infrastructure, sport technology, broadcast technology, and merchandising and ticketing. While the risk is evidently highest for venues and other assets directly utilized for the Games, the potential for threats extends beyond, affecting seemingly unrelated entities such as critical national infrastructure and various French businesses. Beyond France, IDC foresees a $57 million escalation in security services revenue in the rest of Europe in 2024 as a repercussion of hosting the Olympic Games in Paris.
“‘Cybercriminals are exploiting global sporting events like the Olympic Games to devise new targeted threats against businesses and civilians, recognizing that their targets are often preoccupied and more susceptible to social engineering,’ mentioned Richard Thurston, research manager, European Security Services at IDC.
“‘We can anticipate an unparalleled elevation in threats launched during the Paris Olympic Games, serving a gamut of financial and political motives that target not only the Olympic Games but also unrelated organizations,’ Thurston continued. ‘Fortunately, many organizations in France have been accelerating the fortification of their cybersecurity framework ahead of the Games. Furthermore, the Local Organizing Committee is collaborating with a spectrum of highly adept cybersecurity firms to mitigate risks for the Games itself.’”
One additional highlight comes with the Arctic Wolf CEO interview on the Paris Olympics 2024 addressing the escalating peril of cyber assaults. The discussion delves into cyber threats to supply chains, the significance of the global stage, nation-state cyber operations, and AI deployment as both a conduit for attacks and a tool for defense against anticipated ill-intentioned parties, including rogue states and criminal syndicates.
PARTING THOUGHTS
Many visitors and observers from the U.S. will also have their sights on the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, as Los Angeles is slated to host the Summer Olympic Games in four years.
No doubt, as highlighted by the BBC, there will be an unparalleled level of groundwork, collaboration, and information exchange between firms and entities on various levels in Paris over the forthcoming months, with cybersecurity emerging as an integral aspect of this confluence.
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