PARIS (Daily Point) — France is set to issue up to 70,000 digital Schengen Visas for athletes, journalists, and delegations participating in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, making it the first European Union country to adopt such a measure, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.

The newly established ‘Olympic Consulate’ system, introduced at the beginning of this year, will handle these applications, ensuring a streamlined process.

Scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11 and August 28 to September 8, 2024, respectively, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in France anticipate the participation of around 15,000 athletes, 9,000 journalists, and foreign delegations.

To prevent any confusion between Olympic applications and standard visa procedures at French visa centers abroad, the system is designed to manage applications exclusively for these events. Applicants will utilize the France-Visas platform online to file and process their applications, aligning with the EU Schengen visa digitalization plans approved by Parliament in October of the previous year.

Notably, the 70,000 approved applicants will receive their visas integrated into their accreditation cards, departing from the conventional method of affixing visas to passports.

The move aims to accommodate the extensive international attendance expected, with approximately 1.5 million spectators from around the world anticipated during the games. Alejandro Recalde, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games services and relations manager, clarified that individuals with valid multiple-entry Schengen visas would not need a separate French Schengen visa but would require accreditation for the games.