Olympic Chaos: Shirtless man climbs Eiffel Tower, triggers evacuation ahead of closing ceremony

Just hours before the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics, the Eiffel Tower became the centre of an unexpected incident, leading to a sudden evacuation of the area. A shirtless man was spotted climbing the iconic structure on Sunday afternoon, prompting immediate action from French authorities.

King Kong? No, just a shirtless climber with a British accent scaling the Eiffel Tower hours before the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony! 🚨 The tower was closed and evacuated, and the Brit was soon arrested. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/hAzdrisaV5

— Russian Market (@runews) August 11, 2024

Police Respond Quickly

The man was first noticed by police at around 3 p.m., making his way up the tower’s second section, just above the Olympic rings displayed on the lower viewing deck. The police swiftly moved to evacuate tourists and visitors from the area to ensure their safety.

While some individuals found themselves temporarily locked on the tower’s second floor, they were released after about 30 minutes once the situation was under control.

Unclear Intentions

The motives behind the man’s daring climb remain unknown. Despite the intense security presence in Paris on Sunday, with 20,000 officers deployed throughout the city and Saint-Denis, authorities were unable to clarify how the man managed to begin his ascent of one of the world’s most famous landmarks in broad daylight.

Eiffel Tower’s role in Olympics

Although the Eiffel Tower played a prominent role in the Olympic opening ceremony, it was not scheduled to be part of the closing festivities, which took place at Stade de France in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis. The stadium, which hosted various rugby and track and field events throughout the Games, was heavily secured with 3,000 officers stationed around the venue.

Paris Olympic Games proceed

Despite initial fears and threats leading up to the Olympics, the Paris Games proceeded smoothly for over two weeks without significant incidents. However, the scaling of the Eiffel Tower just before the closing ceremony brought an unexpected twist to the final day of the Games.

Other Disruptions in Europe

While the Paris Olympics remained largely unaffected, other major events in Europe faced disruptions due to terror threats during the same period. In Vienna, three Taylor Swift concerts were cancelled after authorities arrested two men accused of planning a terror attack outside the venue, highlighting the heightened security concerns across the continent during the Games.