Some French businesses' revenues are dropping ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics

FRANCE 24 English

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00:00Red zones, grey zones. Ahead of the Olympic Games, Paris is a patchwork of restricted areas.

00:06Only people with Olympic accreditation can access the Seine, where the opening ceremony will take place on Friday.

00:15An Olympic press pass and matching ID opens the gate.

00:21But many people are caught unawares.

00:30The Ile Saint-Louis, the posh urban island in the heart of Paris, is normally a big draw for visitors,

00:39but at the moment it's completely surrounded by barriers.

00:42The usually thronged streets are empty, as are the shops.

00:55I think I'll close early. As you've seen, the streets here are practically deserted.

01:00Do you have room on the terrace?

01:02Of course.

01:03We have the choice, right?

01:05Despite this restaurant's desirable view of Notre-Dame Cathedral, customers are sparse.

01:13Normally, this table is the prime location. It's really a fantastic spot.

01:18But now we have these barriers, which is a lot less sexy.

01:22There are definitely some places that are benefiting and others that are losing out.

01:27But the few pedestrians are enjoying the peaceful streets.

01:30Only people with a special queue or code can get past the barriers.

01:35It's thanks to my mother, who lives on the Ile Saint-Louis, so we were able to apply for a pass.

01:40We're staying here for the holidays.

01:44It's quiet. There's less noise, less pollution, it seems. It's really pleasant.

01:48With the lack of customers, many businesses have closed their doors until after the Olympic opening ceremony.

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