France says it has contingency plans as Olympics security questions arise

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AROUND 300-THOUSAND SPECTATORS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE PARIS OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY THIS SUMMER. THE PARIS GAMES CEREMONY WILL BREAK FROM TRADITION BY TAKING PLACE ALONG THE SEINE RIVER — INSTEAD OF  A STADIUM.

THE JULY 26 CEREMONY IS SET TO TRAVERSE A 3 AND A HALF-MILE STRETCH THROUGH CENTRAL PARIS WITH 160 BOATS CARRYING ATHLETES ON THE WATER AS CROWDS LINE THE RIVERBANKS.

HOWEVER, PLANS LIKE THIS COME WITH SECURITY RISKS PARTICULARLY WITH WARS IN UKRAINE AND THE MIDDLE EAST.

IN FACT, EARLIER THIS MONTH, FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON SAID HE WAS SURE RUSSIA WOULD TARGET THE GAMES 

FOLLOWING IRANIAN STRIKES ON ISRAEL OVER THE WEEKEND, MACRON SOUGHT TO QUELL ANY CONCERNS OVER SECURITY. HE WENT ON TV AND RADIO MONDAY TO OFFER  ASSURANCES THAT THERE ARE  ALTERNATIVE PLANS SHOULD SECURITY THREATS ARISE.

EMMANUEL MACRON
PRESIDENT | FRANCE

“We can do it and we will do it. If we think there are security risks, we’ll have Plan B’s and even Plan C’s.”

MACRON SAID HE IS CONFIDENT THE EVENT WILL PROCEED AS PLANNED, BUT NOTED RELOCATING TO TROCADERO SQUARE OR THE NATIONAL ARENA WERE OPTIONS.

FRANCE IS DEPLOYING 45-THOUSAND POLICE, MILITARY POLICE, AND ARMY TROOPS NATIONWIDE FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES — SOME 46 COUNTRIES ARE ALSO CONTRIBUTING PERSONNEL. 

ACCORDING TO A MINISTRY OF INTERIOR BRIEFING LAST MONTH, EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE GAMES—FROM SECURITY STAFF AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS TO VOLUNTEERS—WILL UNDERGO BACKGROUND CHECKS.

ACCORDING TO NBC NEWS OUT OF THE 1 MILLION PLANNED CHECKS, 100-THOUSAND HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONDUCTED — 280 CASES REQUIRE FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

THE PARIS GAMES ARE EXPECTED TO HOST 15-THOUSAND ATHLETES AND 15 MILLION VISITORS.