The French president, Emmanuel Macron, revealed this Monday the alternative plans for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games: limit it in space or hold it in the Stade de France, although he was convinced that it could be held in the waters of the Seine. despite the terrorist threat.
Although Macron had already assured in the past that there were other options for the inauguration ceremony, this is the first time he has referred to the scenarios he is considering.
“The ceremony we are planning is a world first. We can do it and we are going to do it (…) But we have plans B and plans C and we prepare them in parallel,” she said in an interview with BFMTV television.
Macron referred to two, holding the ceremony in the Trocadero gardens, which in the initial plan will be the final point of the delegations’ parade along the Seine, or taking it to the Stade de France in Saint Denis, which will host athletics.
The French president pointed out that they do not face the situation “naively”, but rather “aware” of the threats that hang over that ceremony.
“We do not minimize the situation, the world is in disorder, we have a war in Europe (in Ukraine), we see what is happening in the Middle East, that there is a terrorist risk. But we are preparing to face it, with transparency,” said Macron.
He pointed out that the police deployment will be unprecedented and, given the doubts of a spectator about whether she should let her son attend that ceremony, he assured that “there will not be a safer place.”
Macron pointed out that anti-terrorist surveillance is total and is carried out in coordination with other countries, which will take care of their own delegations, but will also share information with France to prevent attacks.
“We work permanently with our counterparts, in terms of intelligence and information,” he assured.
In that sense, he indicated that “a few months ago an attempted attack in Strasbourg commanded by the same people who committed the one in Moscow” at the end of March was dismantled.
Macron was convinced that during the Games there will be “an Olympic truce” that will allow the sporting event to develop calmly, for which he will ask the collaboration of Chinese President Xi Jimping, who will soon travel to Paris.
The president recalled that Russian athletes will be able to participate without a flag and justified that the same decision not be made with the Israelis, as some organizations are requesting in retaliation for their actions in Gaza.
“Russia committed aggression in Ukraine. Israel was the victim of a terrorist attack. “It is true that, in response to this, they are bombing Gaza and killing civilians, which is why we are calling for a truce,” he explained.
“But we cannot say that Israel is an attacker and that is an important difference (with Russia) and that is why its athletes will be with their flag at the Games, which I hope will be a vector of peace,” he stressed.
Faced with the survey indicating that only 55% of French people seem involved in the Games, Macron was convinced that involvement will increase and set the date for May 8, when the Olympic torch arrives in the country and begins its journey. for 460 cities.
“In the end, the entire country will be proud,” said the president, who indicated that the Games will leave “a great legacy” in the country, such as the sanitation of the waters of the Seine, the rehabilitation of depressed neighborhoods or some sports infrastructures.
Unions have called or threatened to call strikes in various sectors, such as public transport, during the Games, but Macron expressed his “confidence” in union organizations so that these stoppages do not take place.
“I tell the unions that France has to show that it knows how to organize the Games, being respectful of rights. I ask for an Olympic truce, I trust them, in their spirit of responsibility,” she said.
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