French President Emmanuel Macron has assured that there is “of course” a plan B for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on the Seine.
Macron said on Wednesday that this should be used “in the event of a potential threat”. This is the case if there is an increase in international or regional tensions or a series of attacks.
“It is an event that will take place under the best standards of security and support. And so we foresee all scenarios and will adapt to all scenarios,” Macron continued: “But that must not stop us from dreaming. And I have good hope that we can dream until the end.”
The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place on July 26th on the Seine between the Pont d’Austerlitz and the Pont d’Iena. The banks of the Seine will become a high-security zone by hosting an opening outside a stadium for the first time.
The question of security during the celebration was raised again by the attack by a radicalized Islamist on December 2nd near the Eiffel Tower, in which a German tourist was killed and two other people were injured.