“One more adventure”: in Paris, barges moved before the Olympics

“This is the very first time she has moved anywhere else,” apart from her usual summer getaways, explains this American from Boston, owner of the barge for 45 years.

The Adriana is the last of the 24 barges moored between the Trocadéro and the Bir-Hakeim bridge to be temporarily moved to Boulogne-Billancourt and Saint-Cloud, west of the capital.

All will be reinstalled in their original location the day after the opening ceremony on July 26.

“Experience the Seine to the fullest”

“It’s only 10 days, it doesn’t matter,” tempers the penichard, phone in hand to capture this unprecedented moment.

On July 26, the Seine will welcome sports delegations and cameras from around the world during a ceremony on the water which will begin at the Pont d'Austerlitz at 19:30 p.m., in the east of Paris, and will end in front of the Trocadéro and its official forum.

This is the first time in the history of the Summer Olympic Games that the opening ceremony has been held outside a stadium.

“It’s going to be an incredible event, it really brings the Seine to life,” rejoices Christophe Tetard, who has lived on the river since 2019.

His barge, Saint-Antoine, cast off a few minutes before the Adriana, also moved by a pusher boat.

“Life on the water is a life of adventure, so it’s one more adventure,” smiles this 35-year-old mason who renovated the barge for two years before moving there in April.

He already knows his future provisional address, in Boulogne-Billancourt, and even his future neighbors whom he was able to meet during a party organized by the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Haropa Port. “A great initiative,” he salutes.

“It’s important to know if the boats will go well with each other, already from a technical point of view, but also from a human point of view,” explains this enthusiast of architecture and old boats. .

Having been informed "for almost two years" of his move, he praises the "benevolent" support of the organizers.

“We are very happy to put our little part in the machine so that the Olympics go well,” explains Christophe Tetard.

In total, 10.500 athletes will walk on July 26 in front of more than 300.000 spectators, all under exceptional security.

“A lot of confusion”

Not all barges are forced to weigh anchor: although the restaurant boats will be closed on the day of the ceremony, they will be able to receive customers with a “Games Pass” delivered with their reservation throughout the period.

“There is still a lack of information,” however, deplores Clément Leclair, deputy director of the Francette restaurant barge, below the Eiffel Tower.

Charles Webster Downer will be relocated - the choice was left to everyone - in a hotel in Beaugrenelle.

“I stay in the same neighborhood, I can continue to go shopping in the same places,” he rejoices.

But an hour later, in Saint-Cloud, the mines are less happy. Adriana's owner, who came by car, does not see his barge, hidden by a boat already moored at the address given to him. Charles would still like to collect some things on board, but for that he would have to go on the barge of the owners of the place... who are not there.

With him, his dock neighbor Bob Powell, owner of the Simpatico for 47 years, has still not found his boat, which was moved the day before.

“I see a lot of confusion,” he sighs after learning that his boat might be able to return to the Grenelle quay, near its original location.

“It’s called adventure!”, jokes his neighbor.