Eiffel Tower Evacuated as Man Scales Landmark Ahead of Olympics Closing Ceremony
Parisian authorities swiftly evacuated the area surrounding the iconic Eiffel Tower on Sunday afternoon after a shirtless man was spotted scaling the 330-meter (1,083-foot) structure. The incident occurred just hours before the scheduled closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
The man’s ascent was first noticed around 3 pm, with witnesses reporting seeing him above the Olympic rings adorning the second section of the tower. It remains unclear where he began his climb, but he was spotted just above the first viewing deck.
Police immediately cordoned off the area and escorted visitors away from the tower. Some visitors who were briefly trapped on the second floor were allowed to exit approximately 30 minutes later.
The Eiffel Tower served as a prominent backdrop during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, with renowned singer Celine Dion performing from one of its viewing areas. However, it was not expected to play a role in the closing ceremony, which was set to take place at the Stade de France in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis at 9 pm.
The incident occurred as the Olympic competition drew to a close, and security services in Paris and beyond were shifting their focus to the closing ceremony. Over 30,000 police officers were deployed throughout Paris on Sunday, with approximately 3,000 officers mobilized around the Stade de France. An additional 20,000 police troops and security personnel were deployed in Paris and the Saint-Denis area to ensure safety on the final day of the Games.
