France has ‘Plan b’ for Paris 2024 opening ceremony
French Sports and Olympic Games Minister, Amélie Oudea-Castera, assured that Paris 2024’s opening ceremony has a backup plan in case needed, and ruled out a “terrorist threat” at present.
After the 22 March attack on a concert hall near Moscow, which resulted in the deaths of 144 individuals and was claimed by the Islamic State (IS), President Emmanuel Macron’s government has escalated to the highest alert level, termed a “terrorist emergency.”
“Today there is no specific terror-related threat targeting the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We continue to monitor the terrorist threat as necessary.” Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera told the France 2 channel. When questioned about the availability of a backup plan for the Olympic event’s opening ceremony slated for 26 July, the French minister affirmed that the celebration along the Seine riverbanks in central Paris was their “central plan.”
“I think we should respect discretion. Not discussing it, not talking about a plan B, does not mean that we do not have it planned,” Oudea-Castera said.
Event organisers have dismissed the idea of relocating the opening ceremony from the Seine but have proposed the possibility of scaling it down. This could involve allowing only performers, rather than athletes, to board the boats, for instance.
The French interior ministry has reported that security forces are conducting screenings of up to one million individuals ahead of the Games, which includes residents living in proximity to critical infrastructure.
On March 25, the French Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, stated that France “will be ready” to ensure security.
A practice run for the opening ceremony along the Seine is scheduled for June 17, following another preliminary rehearsal on 27 May. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are set to be held in France from 26 July to 8 September, with an anticipated audience of at least 10 million spectators.