Paris had an incredible start to the 2024 Olympics this weekend. The Opening Ceremony was such a sight that despite the rain, the streets and and banks of the Seine were lined with spectators. Some even had 4 legs and tails! It’s true rats came out of the Paris sewers to witness events.
A year ago, Paris’ Mayor suggested cohabitation as a begrudging surrender to these animals. Rats have been a fact of Parisian life for centuries and recorded in literature such as Les Miserables and The Phantom of The Opera. With the Olympics and worldwide attention coming, Paris tried to clean up this longtime rodent problem. City officials implemented rigorous measures to secure Olympic sites from the notorious vermin, including a deep clean to remove food residues and blocking exit points from the sewers. A year later, despite efforts to address the health concerns from Rat Pee disease and clean up the Seine, it appears the rats won.