French President Emmanuel Macron disclosed on Monday that organizers have devised contingency plans in case holding the much-anticipated Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony on the River Seine poses significant security threats.
With the countdown to the Olympics hitting the crucial 100-day mark, Macron addressed French broadcasters RMC and BFM TV from the Grand Palais. While expressing confidence in the feasibility of hosting the ceremony on the Seine, he acknowledged the need for alternative arrangements due to potential security challenges, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
"We have backup plans, and even backup plans for those backup plans, if we assess security risks," he stated. "We are simultaneously preparing them. We will assess the situation in real-time. One option is to hold a scaled-down ceremony at the Trocadero, which wouldn't span the entirety of the Seine."
Macron also floated the idea of relocating the ceremony to the Stade de France, noting its traditional usage for such events.
The decision to stage the opening ceremony in the expansive urban setting was a bold move by the Paris organizing committee and local authorities.
Under the current scheme, approximately 10,500 athletes are slated to traverse roughly six kilometers from east to west along the Seine, docking near the Eiffel Tower at Trocadero Square for the festivities. An estimated 300,000 spectators are expected to witness the spectacle firsthand from both riverbanks.
Nevertheless, security remains a paramount concern since the inception of planning. The escalating risk of potential terrorist threats looms large for both the organizing committee and the French government.
The Olympic flame for the Paris Games will be kindled on April 16 in ancient Olympia, Greece. April 17 will mark the commencement of the 100-day countdown to the Paris Olympics' inauguration.
Scheduled between July 26 and August 11, the Paris Olympics will be followed by the Paris Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.
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