Eiffel Tower Evacuated as Police Arrest Man Scaling Iconic Landmark Hours Before Closing Ceremony

The Eiffel Tower was a central focus of the Opening Ceremony but won’t play a role in the Closing Ceremony.

PARIS, France — French police temporarily evacuated the area around the Eiffel Tower Sunday after a man was observed climbing the iconic landmark only hours before the Olympics closing ceremony.

The climber, shirtless, was midway up the 330-meter (1,083-foot) tower in the afternoon. His exact starting point remains unclear, but he was spotted just above the Olympic rings, which decorate the second section of the monument.

Authorities cleared visitors from the vicinity around 3 p.m. Those stranded on the second floor were freed about 30 minutes later.

“An individual started climbing the Eiffel Tower at 2:45 p.m. Police intervened and the person was detained,” a Paris police official told The Associated Press, requesting anonymity due to an ongoing investigation.

The Eiffel Tower was featured prominently in the Opening Ceremony, with Celine Dion performing from one of its viewing platforms. It will not be part of the closing ceremony, which is scheduled to commence at Stade de France in Saint-Denis at 9 p.m.

The incident happened as the Olympic events conclude, and security forces in Paris are preparing for the closing ceremony.

Over 30,000 police officers have been stationed across Paris on Sunday. France’s Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, reported that approximately 3,000 officers would focus on security around Stade de France. Additionally, 20,000 police and other security personnel will be mobilized across Paris and Saint-Denis late into Sunday night to ensure safety as the Olympics come to an end.