As the start of the Paris Olympics draws near—they’re just 18 days away—signs are pointing to one of the most ambitious ideas of the Summer Games being a bust.

The opening ceremony is set to take place July 26 along the Seine river, with a record 300,000 spectators expected to observe from land. Originally, organizers projected 600,000 fans would be able to watch before slashing the number in half due to security concerns and crowd control. Still, it will be the first opening ceremony outside the main Olympic stadium.