Ten-member Indian K9 team in Paris for Olympic security
The ten Indian K9 (canine) teams will undertake sniffing and patrolling duties at various venues that will hold events for the Paris Olympics
CAPF dogs Vast and Denby along with their handlers in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. They are part of the 10 canine teams that have landed in France for providing security to various venues for the Paris Olympics beginning from July 26.
| Photo Credit: PTI
A 10-member K9 team along with 17 handlers from India is in Paris to provide security for the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024 at the request of the French Mission in India. This marks the first time an Indian K9 contingent will perform such duties abroad, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The Indian K9 contingent comprises 10 dogs of different breeds: six Belgian Shepherds, three German Shepherds, and one Labrador Retriever. The dogs reached Paris in an Air France commercial flight, officials said.
What’s new in Paris Olympics 2024?
“Proud to meet 10-member K-9 unit from India, for a month in Paris to support French security for Paris Olympics 2024. Our K-9 stars & handlers doing well after travel from India; quickly on the job for French National Day. Got a nice handshake, too! One example of Indo-French security cooperation!,” Indian envoy in Paris Jawed Ashraf said on social media.
While the number of K9 teams from various countries at the Olympics was not available, it has been learnt that a total of approximately 1,750 security personnel from around 40 partner countries will be present as reinforcements for security during the Olympics.
The embassy of France in India has requested the Government of India to provide an anti-explosive unit, specifically K9s (dogs) along with their K9 police officers (dog handlers), to enhance security measures during the 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games from July 11 to August 12, 2024, the External Publicity & Public Diplomacy of the MEA said in response to a query from The Hindu.
In response, 17 personnel and 10 K9s from various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including the Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Sashastra Seema Bal, Assam Rifles and National Security Guard, have been designated for this mission. Noting that these dogs demonstrated their capabilities during the G-20 Summit 2023 in India, earning widespread recognition, the response added, “This marks the first time an Indian K9 contingent will perform such duties abroad. The contingent is committed to executing its duties with the utmost care, recognising the significance of their mission on the international stage and ensuring no detail is overlooked to achieve mission success.”
Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26 will be bold, original and unique, French envoy in India Thierry Mathou said last week. “For the first time in the history of the Olympic Summer Games, this ceremony will not take place within a stadium, but out in the city itself, along the main artery of Paris: the Seine River, a symbol of our eagerness to reach out to all,” he said addressing a reception on July 12 on the occasion of French National Day.
The envoy said that to illustrate the values France wanted to promote internationally: (not only innovation, but also sustainability, solidarity and equality), the President of the French Republic and the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would co-chair a summit on the eve of the Games’ opening ceremony to highlight the contribution of sports to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with the objective of launching a global “sport and sustainable development” initiative across five areas: education and employment, health and nutrition, equality and inclusion, sustainability and legacy, and financing.
“This Summit will host some 500 participants, including heads of state and government, leaders of international organisations, athletes and representatives of the sports movement, as well as development finance institutions, and will be supported by the French Development Agency Group, which has been strongly committed to these issues, including in India,” Mr. Mathou said.
“Recognising the importance of strengthening sports cooperation, we are determined to boost youth exchanges and ties between economic actors of the sports industry,” the envoy said, adding, “In this context, France will be more than happy to share its experience of hosting the Olympics and Paralympics in view of India’s bid to host the Games in 2036.”
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