As Paris gears up for the Olympics, city officials are taking extraordinary measures to ensure that visitors experience the French capital in its most pristine state—especially when it comes to keeping the city’s notorious rats at bay. Despite the city’s reputation for its furry inhabitants, authorities are working diligently to minimize their presence and avoid any embarrassing encounters during the Games.
The city’s rat population, humorously immortalized in the animated film Ratatouille, poses a serious concern for local authorities. Anne-Claire Boux, Paris’s deputy mayor responsible for public health, shared with AFP that rigorous measures have been implemented to address this issue. “All of the Olympic sites and celebration areas were analyzed for rats before the Games,” Boux explained. In response, the city has conducted extensive clean-ups to remove potential food sources and has worked to seal off sewer exits around key venues.
The strategy includes placing both mechanical traps and chemical solutions in areas previously known for high rat activity. Notably, locations such as the park behind the Eiffel Tower, which will host beach volleyball events, and the Louvre gardens, the site for the Olympic cauldron, have been focal points of these efforts. Although rats are considered part of the city’s ecosystem, maintaining their presence exclusively in the sewers is deemed crucial for a smooth Olympic experience.
The concern over rats in Paris is not new. The city’s vermin problem has been a recurring topic in French literature and current debates about urban cleanliness. Recent criticism of Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s administration, exacerbated by the #SaccageParis social media campaign in 2021, has brought the issue to the forefront. The campaign highlighted overflowing bins and poorly maintained public spaces, challenging Paris’s image of elegance and cleanliness. In response, the city introduced a “manifesto for beauty” to address these concerns, leading to a significant sprucing-up of boulevards and historic buildings.
As part of the pre-Olympic preparations, Paris has also replaced many waste bins with rat-proof versions to prevent any further attraction for the rodents. Boux emphasized the importance of keeping food residues off the streets and ensuring that all waste containers are properly sealed. “The most important thing is that the bins are sealed and closed,” she stated.
In addition to these measures, the city’s rat control specialists, known as the “Smash” team, have been advising the Paris organizing committee on how to design and maintain clean sites. The city’s 7,500-strong cleaning and waste collection teams, who faced criticism last year during a strike that led to 10,000 tonnes of garbage piling up, are set to receive bonuses for their work during the Games. Private contractors will also assist in maintaining cleanliness throughout the Olympic period.
Antoine Guillou, the deputy mayor in charge of waste management, expressed confidence in the city’s preparations. “I’m not at all worried (about rats),” he said. “On the contrary, the Games will help us show definitively that this idea that you run into lots of rats in Paris is false.” Guillou acknowledged that while rats do exist, their numbers are not as problematic as sometimes portrayed.
As the Olympics approach, Paris is poised to showcase its charm and readiness to the world, with extensive efforts to keep its streets clean and its rat population in check. While the city’s furry residents are part of its historical and literary legacy, the current focus remains on ensuring a rat-free environment for the influx of international visitors and athletes.
