The countdown to the Olympics which will open on July 26 in Paris with a spectacular inauguration along the Seine has reached -100 days: the Games will be protected by an “unprecedented” security device and the preparations “are in good shape”, assured the president of the organizing committee, Tony Estanguet, in an interview with the BBC. “However, we remain a little humble because in this type of event anything can happen when the finish line approaches”, added the 45-year-old former canoeist who said he was “very satisfied” so far.
“My message is that you can have faith in this event,” Estanguet insisted. On the risk of attacks, he added, “I want to reassure you that “it is non-negotiable, security is the priority”. “It is the biggest event that France has ever organized and we want to showcase the best of France”, he added. added, “so we are absolutely determined to be ready and can’t wait to welcome the world to Paris.”
“The sports facilities are ready”, underlined the head of the organizing committee, “the financial balance is balanced, we have had excellent pre-sales of tickets and the level of ambition is very high”. For the first time, the inauguration ceremony will be held outside a stadium, along the Seine, with 10,000 athletes parading along 6 kilometers of river aboard 160 barges. 300 thousand spectators are expected who will all have to register and have a ticket. However, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, said he was ready to move the ceremony to the Trocadero gardens or to the Stade de France if there were security risks, given the alert linked to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.