A glamorous gala dinner “of the presidents” is currently taking place under the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, with 80 heads of state and government, including Sergio Mattarella, as the honored guests of the presidential couple, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, and the President of the IOC, Thomas Bach. The total number of guests is around 500.
Before the dinner, prepared by the renowned French chef Alain Ducasse, Macron addressed the attendees expressing “the pride” of France for organizing the Paris 2024 Olympics. The dinner, attended by industrialists and Olympic sponsors, was preceded by a summit on the topics of sports and sustainable development.
Impressive security measures are in place, with 300 special agents deployed for the close protection of the leaders. The serving staff has been meticulously vetted, with their criminal records scrutinized. Contrary to some reports, official food tasters are not present to check for poisons, as there is no guarantee that delayed-action substances may not be used in a hypothetical attack. In case of doubt, representatives of the heads of states can choose to refuse a dish or swap it with other guests.
The event is shrouded in absolute secrecy, with no information released about the attendees or any last-minute cancellations.
The Eve:
Paris welcomes heads of state and government who have arrived for the inaugural ceremony of the Olympics scheduled for tomorrow with a gala dinner tonight under the Louvre Pyramid. Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron will play the hosts for this dinner organized by the IOC and the French presidency, with around 500 guests including Sergio Mattarella and approximately 80 heads of state and government, international organization leaders, sports authorities, and Olympic Games sponsors.
Among the guests are the King of Belgium, Filip, with Queen Mathilde, who arrived with their children on the Eurostar, the royal couple of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia, Princess Anne of the UK, and the American First Lady, Jill Biden representing her husband.
Leading the kitchen for this extraordinary event, amidst unprecedented security measures, is France’s most acclaimed chef specialized in international diplomatic dinners, Alain Ducasse.
The menu remains a secret, and for security reasons, it will be tasted in advance by some “tasters” to prevent poisoning risks. There is still suspense regarding the attendance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the dinner. They will instead be present in the VIP stands tomorrow at the Trocadéro for the inaugural ceremony parade. Due to international tensions, their participation in the dinner will be decided in the coming hours.
Before the dinner, guests are invited to participate in a summit at the Carrousel du Louvre, co-hosted by Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, and Macron, focusing on the role of sports in development. According to the Élysée Palace, concrete financial commitments will be made during this meeting.
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