The French government remains committed to the plan of holding the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony on the River Seine, despite heightened security concerns following a recent deadly attack in the capital. The attack, which occurred near the Eiffel Tower, involved a man known to authorities as a radical Islamist with mental health issues.
Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera stated in an interview with France Inter radio that there is currently no “plan B,” but the original plan could be adapted within the concept of a river flotilla. Media reports suggest security forces are gravely concerned about the vulnerability of the ceremony to potential attacks.
Minister Oudea-Castera acknowledged the existence of the terrorist threat, particularly the Islamist threat, but emphasized that it is not new and is not exclusive to France or the Olympic Games. She mentioned the possibility of adjustments to various variables, such as the number of spectators, events around the area, and security perimeters, which could be modulated based on decisions in the spring.
When questioned about the relocation of the ceremony, the minister clarified that it is not the hypothesis they are currently working on. The opening ceremony is historic for hosting it outside the main athletics stadium, with participants and officials set to travel through Paris on a flotilla of over 100 vessels.
Emmanuel Gregoire, Paris’s first deputy mayor, highlighted the symbolic choice of the Eiffel Tower area by the attacker and stressed that the incident should not call into question the Olympics but rather prompt a reevaluation of how risks are anticipated and treated. Despite concerns, officials express confidence in preparing for the Olympics in a satisfactory manner, drawing parallels to the recently hosted Rugby World Cup in Paris without incident.
