Antoine Bienvault / Photo credits: ERIC BRONCARD / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP 9:19 a.m., February 14, 2024

The big relief on the banks of the Seine for second-hand booksellers: they will not move during the Olympic Games. And the announcement from the Élysée revives speculation about maintaining the opening ceremony in its initial form. In the meantime, the Paris second-hand booksellers met by Europe 1 are delighted. 

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The news broke this Tuesday evening. While Parisian second-hand booksellers were asked to leave the banks of the Seine during the Olympic Games, Emmanuel Macron finally reversed this decision. The capital's legendary book dealers will therefore be able to continue selling their books next summer. An unexpected announcement which inevitably delighted the second-hand booksellers met by Europe 1.

“We were really in complete limbo”

A smile from ear to ear and above all a huge relief for Claire, a bookseller from the center of Paris. “I admit that I am still in shock,” she confides, happy. Two hours earlier, she learned that she could stay on the banks of the Seine during the Olympic Games. "It's been seven months since we were really in complete limbo. So that's really good news! We're still part of Paris, it's great," explains Claire.

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Continuing to be part of Paris is also what Julien wanted... Delighted not to have to move his company this summer. "One of the things we absolutely wanted was not to dismantle our boxes. We are quite precarious people, so moving was really not possible. It's a little relief... Yes. is really the case, it’s good news,” explains the bookseller.

A joy shared by all the booksellers in the area, including Antoine, who still wants to remain careful. "It's very good news, but I'm asking to see with my own eyes. I'm waiting to see if, really, no bookseller will be displaced. I'm naturally suspicious," he says. A bookseller for 27 years, he still assures that he will do his best to best welcome tourists from all over the world next summer.