On Monday, April 15, Mr Emmanuel Macron presented the scenarios foreseen for the security of the opening ceremony of Olympic Games of Paris. He also stated that he is working to ensure an international “Olympic Truce”.
And all this after the measurements show some concern while interest in the Games is waning.
French President Emmanuel Macron has begun the countdown to the Paris Olympics, reassuring the world about security around the opening ceremony on the Seine, describing for the first time the “plans B and C” in the event of a terrorist threat, in particular in Stade de France. “This opening ceremony along the capital’s river on July 26 is a world first.” We can do it and we will”the French president said in an interview from his construction site Big palace in Paris, which is going to host several events. Nevertheless “there are plan B’s and even plan C’s”, “and we prepare them at the same time”, he added.
President Macron had already assured that alternative scenarios were being considered. For the first time, he began to analyze them in detail. “We will analyze the risks in real time”he added. “We have a ceremony that we’re preparing that would be limited to the Trocadéro, for example, so we wouldn’t do it across the Seine,” “or even bring it back to the Stade de France,” explained.
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Large security perimeter
Until now, the executive has officially ruled out transfer to the Stade de France, not least because the venue hosts events before July 26. Emmanuel Macron, however, wanted to reassure the public about the security arrangements for the river scenario, which remains the preferred option. “We have anticipated the situation and are creating a very wide security perimeter, where we will check everyone entering and exiting,” he insisted. The number of viewers who can watch for free has been reduced from 500,000 to 222,000. Together with those who have paid for their places at the foot of the docks, the total should be about 320,000.
OLY Paris 2024
Three months before the start of this global event, and with clouds gathering on the international stage, the President also attempted to enhance the diplomatic value of the Games. France “will do everything for there to be an Olympic truce”he said, promising to work with the Chinese president to that end Xi Jinping particularly. “I asked him to help me,” he added, incidentally confirming that he will come to Paris “in a few weeks.” It is expected in early May, according to diplomatic sources. In November, the UN General Assembly called on all countries of the world to respect traditional “Olympic Truce” during the Paris Games.
President Macron also confirmed that a summit will be held on July 25, co-organized with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), “for sports, nutrition and education”in order “to give our young people a better future”. With this interview and this new review of the space after its opening “village of athletes” and the Olympic swimming pool, the head of state hopes to reignite enthusiasm.
A poll of Ipsos published in the newspaper La Tribune Sunday shows that only 53% of the French state that “he is interested” for the Games, eight points less than six months ago. Even worse, the majority of respondents stated that “concerns” on France’s ability to ensure the smooth running of the Games.
Demonstration of fencing
Emmanuel Macron tried to play down fears of strikes during the Games. “I have confidence in unions. They have a spirit of responsibility and will be on our side”, he stated. The French president was then due to visit the construction site of the Grand Palais, which is being renovated from 2021 and is set to host the Olympic and Paralympic fencing and taekwondo competitions. In particular, he will meet with a delegation of workers and observe “a fencing demonstration by the French Olympic women’s saber and men’s fencing teams”. The venue is expected to be handed over to the Olympic Organizing Committee on Friday.
“This new Grand Palais project, with a budget of around 500 million euros, covers the 77,000 square meters of space, the halls, the exteriors, the grand atrium and the Palais de la découverte”, explained the Elysee Palace in detail. The full restoration of the site, built for the 1900 World’s Fair, is expected to be completed in the spring of 2025 for the Grand Palais, when it will reopen to the public, and in 2027 for the Palace of discovery.
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