French President Emmanuel Macron says opening ceremony could go ahead due to security threats – Firstpost

French President Emmanuel Macron said the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics could move from the Seine to the national stadium if there was a security threat.

Macron said in an interview with local media BFMTV and RMC that instead of the teams going down the Seine, the ceremony could be “limited to the Trocadéro building” on the other side of the Eiffel Tower or “even moved to the Stade of France “. .

The Parisian organizers have imagined a ceremony unprecedented in Olympic history because it breaks with the tradition of opening the Games in the main stadium.

However, despite the war between Russia and Ukraine and the violence in Gaza, organizers denied that the July 26 ceremony could be moved to another location.

“This opening ceremony… is a world first. We can do it and we will do it,” Macron said.

But, he added, “there are plans B and plans C”, in particular moving the ceremony to the Stade de France, north of Paris.

“We will analyze this in real time,” Macron added.

He also said he would do “everything possible” to secure an Olympic truce during the Games.

The truce is a historical tradition where peace reigns during the Olympic Games.

“We want to work towards an Olympic truce and I think this is an opportunity for me to engage with many of our partners,” he said.