"Bold, original and unique."
That is how the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is describing the Paris 2024 opening ceremony, which will see 10,500 athletes parading down the Seine river on 94 boats for a six-kilometre stretch on July 26.
It is the first time an opening ceremony will be held outside of a stadium in the Olympic Games' 128-year history.
The ambitious ceremony is open to all in Paris for free and 1.5 billion people are expected to watch it on television and online.
But the daring ceremony comes with the complex task of protecting the huge crowds and athletes from a possible terrorist attack, something that's easier to do when it's contained inside a stadium.
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Victoria University Professor Ramón Spaaij told 9news.com.au the Paris 2024 security plans were similar to recent Games but this event would "take it to the next level".
"It's the largest, most elaborate kind of security planning outside of war," Spaaij said.
"The Olympics require and justify really extraordinary security measures.
"The Olympics are both a really highly symbolic value to the organising country and the organising city, but also, of course, to potentially extremist organisations."
The country plans to deploy 45,000 police and security officers, 20,000 private security personnel and around 15,000 military each day of the Olympics, according to Reuters.
Spaaij said military-style displays at big events, like in London 2012, were often used to demonstrate to would-be terrorists to leave the event alone.
Spaaij said they would also have "cutting-edge" surveillance software and drones.
'Anti-terrorism perimeter'
French President Emmanuel Macron said authorities will have an alternative plan in case of a terrorism threat at the opening ceremony.
"If we think there are security risks, we'll have plan B, and even plan C," Macron said in an interview with CNN affiliate BFMTV with 100 days to go.
The president added that authorities will put a security perimeter around the ceremony site days, if not weeks, before the start.
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Special anti-terrorism measures are being put in place, which include subjecting people who work and live at buildings along the Seine to have background security checks," the Associated Press reports.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said the opening ceremony parade would be inside a high security "anti-terrorism perimeter".
Earlier in March, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that the attendance capacity at the ceremony – the first to be held along a river – will be halved due to security reasons.
About 104,000 people in stands will line the river, with a further 220,000 on raised roadways.
'Be alert, not alarmed'
Some researchers debate whether a strong policing and military presence made people feel safer or more aware of the potential risks.
Spaaij said a potential attack was more likely to occur at smaller places like shopping malls near venues.
"Be alert, not alarmed," he said to any Australians heading to Paris 2024.
"So be vigilant and have your eyes wide open, be smart, familiarise yourself with protocols, things like that.
"But don't live in fear otherwise you're better off not going."