Olympic Games and Paralympics Paris 2024 : Guidance on planning film and TV shoots
How to get the spirit of the games into your project with the least hassle possible.
The Paris 2024 games look set to be an amazing celebration of the best of sports in one of the world’s great cities. As a firm that was born in the city of lights, we have been asked by lots of clients for advice on shooting permits and the like during the games. So we put this little guide together…
ACrew4U have a number of shoots planned for clients over the period of the games and we will have a special presence in the city for the duration.
Timeframe for the Games
The games period in Paris is broken into three distinct phases that cover the build up to, the events, and the dismantling of the infrastructure for the event –
Period 1 : complete
Period 2 : 16 march to 15 june 2024
Period 3 : 16 june to 15 september 2024
Period 4 : 16 september to 30 october 2024
Competition Sites within Paris city limits
Within Paris city-limits, the main areas that will be home to events (apart from cycling and marathons and flame relays) are 15 sites –
Parc des Princes, Roland-Garros, Champs de Mars, Invalides, Pont d’Iéna, Pont Alexandre III, Grand Palais, Concorde, Hôtel de Ville, Arena Bercy, Porte de Versailles, Arena La Chapelle, Arena Paris Sud, Arena Porte de la Chapelle, Stade Tour-Eiffel, Trocadero. You can read more about them here
What Can I shoot ?
For films, dramas, documentaries, reality, corporates, music promos, ads and short films being shot in public areas (the actual inner zones of Olympic events are off-limits without full accreditation) the usual permitting process applies BUT ALLOW A LOT MORE TIME
Timeline of special restrictions:
From 15 March to 16 June –
IN “OLYMPIC ZONES”:
“Standard”* shoots possible with special vigilance required in security sensitive areas.
“Exceptional” shoots** not possible
*Standard shoot : any shoot that’s not a historical or action film
** Exceptional shoot : any shoot that’s a historical or action film
OUTSIDE OF “OLYMPIC ZONES”
“Standard”* shoots possible with special vigilance required in security sensitive areas, and in reduced quantities.
“Exceptional” shoots** not possible.
*Standard shoot : any shoot that’s not a historical or action film
** Exceptional shoot : any shoot that’s a historical or action film
From 16 June to 15 September –
IN “OLYMPIC ZONES”:
Neither exceptional or standard shoots permitted.
*Standard shoot : any shoot that’s not a historical or action film
** Exceptional shoot : any shoot that’s a historical or action film
OUTSIDE OF “OLYMPIC ZONES”
“Standard”* and “Exceptional” shoots** possible with special vigilance required in security sensitive areas.
*Standard shoot : any shoot that’s not a historical or action film
** Exceptional shoot : any shoot that’s a historical or action film
From 16 September to 30 October –
IN “OLYMPIC ZONES”:
Exceptional shoots not permitted in vicinity to Olympic installation dismantling works
Standard shoots permitted subject to special consultation/guidance from relevant authorities.
*Standard shoot : any shoot that’s not a historical or action film
** Exceptional shoot : any shoot that’s a historical or action film
OUTSIDE OF “OLYMPIC ZONES”
“Standard”* and “Exceptional” shoots** possible with special vigilance required in security sensitive areas.
*Standard shoot : any shoot that’s not a historical or action film
** Exceptional shoot : any shoot that’s a historical or action film
I’ve read that I don’t need a permit for really small shoots…
In principle, this is true BUT take two things into account. The security services will be understandably edgy if youre in or near to an Olympic zone and you’re likely to get challenged so we’d generally recommend at least a “simplified” permit and getting someone to check about the area you want to shoot before is pretty much essential. Paris is a super film friendly city, but they’ve got bigger fish to fry so cut them some slack and don’t wing it as much as you would normally especially on a reality or factual project in normal times!
You mentioned Marathons and Cycling and Flame relays…
And I forgot to mention the Opening ceremony! So, unless you are a glutton for punishment, don’t even think about doing anything ambitious, and always make special efforts to research locations for anything the day before , of and after the following events –
- Relay of the flame in Paris and Paris region between 19 and 26 july in Paris region ( it’s in Paris the 14 and 15 july)
- The opening ceremony on 26 July
- Road events sur with limited impact over 11 days in total :
– Cycling: 27 july, 3 and 4 august (Paris – Yvelines)
– Marathon: 10 and 11 august (Paris – Sud Hauts de Seine – Versailles)
What about the Paralympics?
The Paralympic Games run from the 28 August to 8 September and are in the same venues as the Olympics and the opening ceremony is 28 August at the Place de la Concorde site.
You can read more about the event here
I want to plan a corporate , reality or factual shoot in Paris to capture the city’s buzz during the games, what should I do?
Contact ACrew4U, we can help with permits, advice/sanity checks and crew. Plus we’ll have a special office during the games!
I’m a journalist or news organisation and want help or to get accreditation to the event
That’s a bit above our pay grade, but for accredited and non accredited journos contact the people at the “Centre des Médias” and they’ll be able to help you. They have some fantastic resources on offer. Here’s their website.
For the Olympics the process to get accreditation depends on contacting an organisation local to you. Read all about it here.
For the Paralympics the process is pretty much the same, here are some more details.
