Alexis de la Fléchère, edited by Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP
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7:10 p.m., April 15, 2024
In a context of terrorist threat, the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, scheduled for the Seine on July 26, is subject to discussion at the highest summit of the State. Emmanuel Macron mentioned possible plans B and C on Monday, respectively at the Trocadéro and the Stade de France. Hypotheses that would make the ceremony less spectacular.
For the first time, Emmanuel Macron mentioned on Monday “plans B and C” for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, still planned for the Seine on July 26. The president assured that in the event of a strong terrorist threat – France moved to the Vigipirate Emergency attack level after the attack in Moscow – this ceremony could be “limited to the Trocadéro”, or even moved, as a last resort, to the Stade de France. “This is what is traditionally done,” declared the head of state.
A cheap ceremony at the Stade de France?
But if this hypothesis were to be confirmed, the Dionysian enclosure would then only be used for the ceremonial ceremony and no longer artistic. This means that the Stade de France would therefore only host the opening declaration of the Games made by the President of the Republic, and the Olympic oath taken by the two athletes. There would therefore be no show or artistic show on the menu. There would therefore be, a priori, no interest in welcoming the public under these conditions.
Place du Trocadéro chosen as plan B
But this is only plan C. Plan B was announced around the Trocadéro, which faces the Eiffel Tower. In this plan, the organizers would keep part of the ceremony on the Seine, but in a reduced manner.
These announcements come in a very tense context. As revealed by Europe 1 at the end of March, the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI) had recommended to the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin to very seriously plan alternatives to the initial plan.