French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, scheduled for the Seine River, could be moved to the Stade de France instead if the security threat is deemed too high. said.
President Macron told French media outlets BFM-TV and RMC that an unprecedented level of French law enforcement forces would be mobilized to protect the outdoor event.
“But depending on the analysis of the situation, if we think there is a risk, there are alternative scenarios. There is a plan B and a plan C,” Macron said.
The July 26 event is set to be the first Olympic opening ceremony held outside a stadium. Around 10,500 athletes will be paraded along a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) route through the heart of the French capital on boats on the Seine.
To limit security risks, Macron said organizers would shorten the date of the parade on the Seine and even decide to “move the ceremony back to the Stade de France” for a more traditional opening ceremony event. He said it was possible.
Organizers had originally planned a grand opening ceremony with as many as 600,000 people in attendance, most of whom watched for free from the riverbank. But security and logistical concerns have led the government to gradually scale back its ambitions. Earlier this year, overall attendance had dropped to about 300,000 people.
The French government also decided not to allow tourists to watch the opening ceremony for free due to safety concerns. Free access is by invitation only.
