April 15, (THEWILL)- French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that the opening ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics could be moved from the planned river-based event to the Stade de France national stadium if there are any security threats.
In an interview with BFMTV and RMC, Macron acknowledged that the organisers have devised an unprecedented Olympic opening ceremony that will see teams sail down the Seine River on barges. However, he warned that this format could be limited to just the Trocadero building across from the Eiffel Tower or even fully relocated to the Stade de France in the event of a security risk.
“This opening ceremony…is a world first. We can do it and we are going to do it,” Macron said. “But there are Plan Bs and Plan Cs, including moving the ceremony to the Stade de France.”
Despite the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, the Paris organisers have so far denied that the July 26 ceremony could be moved to a different venue if it is targeted. However, Macron stated that the decision would be analysed in real-time, emphasising that security is the top priority.
Macron also stated his desire to uphold the historic Olympic Truce tradition, where peace reigns during the Games. “We want to work towards an Olympic truce and I think it is an occasion for me to engage with a lot of our partners,” he said.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
