The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics will be held on the Seine, but there is no “Plan B” alternative, city officials have insisted.
However, they acknowledged that the event could be scaled back depending on safety risks.
The opening ceremony will see the players parade outside the stadium for the first time as part of a large flotilla along the Seine.
The event is expected to be an eye-catching spectacle, but questions have been raised about its feasibility amid rising security risks. Last month, France raised its terror alert to the highest level following a terrorist attack that killed more than 130 people at a concert hall in Moscow.
This week, French President Emmanuel Macron and French Sports Minister Amélie Houdea-Castella declared that the Paris 2024 Games will not change course from holding the ceremony on the Seine, and spoke at a press conference in Paris on Friday. The first vice mayor of the city gave a speech. Emmanuel Grégoire, Mayor of the City of Paris, and Pierre Rabadin, Deputy Mayor for Sport, Olympic and Paralympic Games and the River Seine, confirmed that the ceremony could be rescheduled but would not be relocated.
“If international risks become more severe, we may reduce the impact and facilities of the opening ceremony,” Rabadan said. “We can reduce the shows and the number of people. But there is no plan B.”
“Of course, we talk about hypotheses,” Grégoire added. “We are focused on getting the situation under control. We are taking extensive measures and doing our best to ensure safety.”
French Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin said last month that France was “ready” to ensure the safety of the Games, with security forces reportedly targeting up to 1 million people, including residents living near the Games venues. He plans to have it tested before the tournament.
French security officials are expected to release details of the plan this month. However, tournament organizers confirmed that the movement of people to houses near the river will be regulated during and ahead of the opening ceremony.
“Police need to know who these people are in case they pose a threat to safety,” Gregoire said. “They will put in place strong safety measures several days in advance. The aim is to preserve the possibility for neighbors to welcome their friends and family. At the same time, they will also ensure safety.”
Paris is aiming to host the cleanest Olympics in history, with plans to clean up the Seine River, where events such as triathlons and open water swimming will be held.
More than $1 billion has been spent cleaning up the river in preparation for the Games, but concerns continue about its adequacy, especially after heavy rains.
City officials insisted they were confident the river event could be held without risk and stressed they were “ready” for this summer's sports festival.
“There is no plan B,” Rabadan said of the river event. “We know that if there are any issues, we can postpone the event by two days.
“We will complete all the work and water quality improvements. Unless we have two months of continuous rain during the summer, we will be ready.”
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(Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
