M acron confronts concerns over Paris Olympics

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday gathered senior ministers to tackle issues shadowingpreparationsfortheparis2024olympics, almost two years to the day before the sporting extravaganza opens.

The Olympics should be a centrepiece of the freshly re-elected Macron’s second term, projecting an image of a France comfortable in its modern identity but open to the world.

But with two years to go to the opening ceremony on July 26, 2024, concerns are growing not just over costs but also security preparations.

France’s reputation as a reliable host of sporting events took a major batering over the chaos that marred the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris on May 28 that critics blamed on heavy-handed policing.

A particular subject of anxiety is the ambitious vision -- in a typical Macron flourish -- of an opening ceremony which will not take place as is customary in the athletics stadium but as a flotilla down the River Seine. The meeting at the Elysee Palace included key ministers such as Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-castera as well as the head of the Paris organising commitee, the three-time Olympic slalom canoe champion Tony Estanguet.macronwillaterthemeetingalsospeakto Internationalolympiccommiteepresidentthomas Bach, the Elysee said.

It is a chance for the ministers “to take note of wherethereareweaknesses”,saidafrenchpresidential official who asked not to be named.

“The idea is to be aware of the calendar and the next stages.”

Not invited were Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and Paris region boss Valerie Pecresse, who were both unsuccessful candidates in the April presidential election and who on Friday issued a joint statement complaining about being excluded.

The Olympics organising commitee COJO has a budget of four billion euros ($4.1 billion), as does its partner organisation SOLIDEO, which is charged with building the peripheral infrastructure.

But rising inflation means economies have to be made and so far, insufficient sponsors have been found to plug the gaps.

“Everything is very tight concerning the budget,” said a source close to the issue who asked not to be named, saying the extent of the challenge would be clear in the autumn.

Security is a particular headache, especially as the vision of the Games is to hold many events in the centre of Paris. This includes events around the Eiffel Tower and the central Place de la Concorde, which is close to the president’s Elysee Palace.