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Paris Olympics Update: Eiffel Tower Closure Hits With Just 158 Days Before the Games Begin

Published 02/19/2024, 10:33 AM EST

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via Reuters

The famous Eiffel Tower, one of the most visited sites in the world, has unexpectedly closed its doors. Due to a staff strike just days before the eagerly awaited Paris Olympics, authorities have temporarily restricted access to the tower. Tourists are disappointed by this sudden shutdown, and questions have been raised about the city’s readiness for the massive athletic event that is coming up.

With the 2024 Summer Olympics scheduled to begin on July 26, Paris is getting ready to host the games, and the closing of the Eiffel Tower throws a shadow of doubt over the already vibrant city. Travel plans were thrown off, and visitors who were hoping to catch a peek at the impressive building were disappointed to see gates and a large screen proclaiming the strike.

Staff strike at Eiffel Tower raises concerns ahead of Paris Olympics

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Staff workers at the Eiffel Tower started the strike as a form of protest against the city’s management of the monument’s finances. Unions claim that Societe d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), the organization in charge of maintaining the tower, is underestimating the expense of necessary maintenance and repairs to prepare for the Olympics. Paris City Hall, which holds a 99% majority ownership in SETE has come under fire for the same reason. The Unions assert that both the integrity of the landmark and the safety of its visitors may be jeopardized by this move from the Tower overseers.

A massive screen advertising the strike greeted the visitors who were standing outside the tower grounds’ boundaries. Nelson Navarro, an Englishman from Norfolk, recorded, “It’s a real shame, really, because we come just for three days, and we’re not going to be able to get up.”

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Additionally, questions have been raised concerning the viability of SETE’s economic strategy. Thus considered unduly ambitious by the General Confederation of Labour, the second-largest labor organization in France. “A symbolic action on a symbolic date,” stated a statement from the CGT union. According to the union, SETE’s budget estimates are predicated on an inflated estimate of yearly visitors. This could cause operational difficulties and financial instability.

Tourist disappointment reflects the challenges facing the Eiffel Tower

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On the 100th anniversary of Gustave Eiffel’s passing, the Eiffel Tower is closed, acting as a poignant reminder of the continuous struggles that one of Paris’s most famous landmarks faces. There are concerns over Paris’s preparedness to host the 2024 Olympics, since the tower’s closure has upset many tourists’ plans and damaged the city’s reputation.

Read More: Road to Paris 2024: Host City Gleams in Gold With Half a Million Lemons and Oranges Ahead of the Mega Games

The closing of the Eiffel Tower highlights the significance of resolving underlying difficulties. This guarantees a seamless and successful Paris Olympics, as visitors voice their unhappiness and unions push for improved financial management.

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Finally, there are only a few days left until the games begin. So everyone is watching the city closely as it works to overcome this unforeseen obstacle and produce a memorable athletic event.

Watch This Story: Global Giant With Over $59,300,000,000 Revenue Joins Hands With Past Olympians in a Wild-Entry to Paris Olympics

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Written by:

Arya Patil

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Edited by:

Yeswanth Praveen