According to the first deputy mayor of Paris Emmanuel Grégoire, the City was not aware of the alternatives for organizing the opening ceremony of the Games, presented Monday by Emmanuel Macron. The elected official recalls that the Paris town hall is also mobilized to ensure security during the Games.
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Emmanuel Grégoire, first deputy mayor of Paris, does not confirm Monday April 15 on franceinfo the hypotheses put forward by Emmanuel Macron concerning the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games, “because we were not informed of these hypotheses”he explains.
On Monday, the head of state presented alternatives to the opening ceremony planned on the Seine. Emmanuel Macron indicated that in the event of a high terrorist threat, this ceremony could be restricted to the Trocadéro or even be repatriated to the Stade de France. An advisor to the president later explained to Radio France’s sports department that the Stade de France scenario was a hypothesis. “uneducated” at this stage. The Stade de France option would thus only be activated as a last resort, the real “plan B” remaining that of the Trocadéro, for a more restricted opening ceremony.
Paris town hall mobilized for the security of the ceremony
“The president wanted to discuss emergency repatriation measures”continues Emmanuel Grégoire, “these are not hypotheses that have been shared with us, I say this clearly and humbly”. Asked whether these hypotheses were worked on for the Trocadéro or for the Stade de France, the first deputy replied: “They are not”.
Emmanuel Grégoire nevertheless retains that “the president confirms that the wish of all partners is to be able to organize the opening ceremony on the Seine.” He reminds us that this is what the Paris town hall is working on “and all public authorities are mobilized to give the greatest guarantees on the security of the event and so that it is the most popular celebration in the history of the Olympic Games.” “This desire to organize a popular event remains the central desire – and I believe it is shared – and at the same time, we must be pragmatic and adapt to the world climate”he concludes.
