The upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are prompting significant changes in the city’s approach to navigation and transportation. According to a Reuters report, Parisian authorities plan to restrict certain functionalities of navigation applications like Google Maps during the Olympics. The move aims to channel tourist traffic more effectively by limiting travel suggestions to specifically curated routes.
“We have asked (Google Maps, City Mapper and others) to relay our transport plans so that the traveler takes the route we have indicated,” Laurent Probst, head of Ile-de-France Mobilites, the authority governing public transport network operators in Paris and the surrounding region, told Ouest-France newspaper this week.
Notably, if companies like Google do not comply with these restrictions, Olympic officials may consider extreme measures. Non-compliance could lead to requests for shutting down these applications, citing public safety concerns. However, the Olympic operator’s media department subsequently expressed confidence that all parties would reach an agreement on the matter.
The Olympics are expected to draw a considerable crowd, with estimates suggesting around 600,000 visitors just for the opening ceremony. To accommodate this influx, Paris has planned an impressive maritime display featuring 160 boats, which will sail a 3.7-mile course from Pont d’Austerlitz to Pont d’Iena on July 26.
In a departure from traditional Olympic hosting strategies, Paris is leveraging its existing infrastructure rather than constructing a new Olympic Park. This decision underscores the city’s commitment to sustainable practices and efficient use of resources. The main idea is to encourage the use of public transportation by Olympic visitors for commuting to various venues. The Olympic Games are scheduled from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.
Coinciding with the Olympics, Google has introduced a significant update to Google Maps. The app now has the capability to navigate through tunnels, according to The Verge. This feature, currently available on the Android version, uses Bluetooth beacons to ascertain users’ locations in areas where GPS signals are typically unreliable. These beacons emit signals that help cell phones pinpoint their location.
This blend of technological innovation and strategic urban planning illustrates how the 2024 Paris Olympic Games are set to be a unique amalgamation of tradition, modernity, and sustainable urban management.
