France suffered a wave of deadly attacks linked to the so-called Islamic State group in 2015–16, targeting the Bataclan and other public venues, and the country has seen occasional extremist violence in the years since.
Loading
President Emmanuel Macron is understood to have demanded the capacity reduction at the urging of his security agencies, having annoyed organisers in December when he said they must consider alternatives. Sources familiar with the planning believe the Stade de France, originally built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, would likely host the event if there is a forced change.
“You’re 15 days away from the Olympics. There’s a series of terrorist attacks. What do you do? Well, you don’t organise [a ceremony] on the Seine,” Macron said in December. “Of course, being professionals, there are plans B, C and so on. You have to be ready for anything. If there is an increase in international or regional tensions, if there is a series of attacks … this is a plan B.”
An Australian Olympic Committee spokesperson said ensuring a safe and secure environment was always a high priority so that athletes could focus on their preparation and performance.
“The French authorities have developed comprehensive security arrangements, and we have every confidence our hosts will provide a safe and secure environment for our team and Australian supporters,” the spokesperson said. “The French have significant experience hosting major events.”
Loading
Tickets to the ceremony have been on sale since November, with some costing thousands of euros. Thousands of free tickets originally intended for the public and tourists will now be allocated via quota ..
Support the originator by clicking the read the rest link below.
