Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet asserts that the Games will benefit from an “unprecedented” security initiative and affirms that the preparations are progressing well.
But with 100 days until the start of the Olympics, he said organisers will “keep some humility, because we know in this kind of event anything can happen in the last stretch”.
Estanguet added he was “very satisfied with where we stand at this moment”.
He told BBC Sport: “My message is you can have confidence with this event.”
Amid mounting concerns over safety, Estanguet said “I would like to reassure that it’s non-negotiable. Security is the priority.”
“It’s the biggest event that France has ever organised, and we want to showcase the best of France. So definitely we are determined to be ready.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the world in Paris.”
“When I discussed this with [London 2012 chief] Seb Coe, he told me…in the last 100 days, there will be more criticism, more people worried. It’s exactly what is happening. My role is to remain calm, remain focused on what is very important to deliver.
“The venues are ready, the budget is balanced. We have very good ticket sales, the level of ambition is very high.”
Opening ceremony
The upcoming opening ceremony is slated to mark a historic departure from stadium venues, as over 10,000 athletes are anticipated to traverse a 6km section of the Seine aboard 160 barges.
Nonetheless, French President Emmanuel Macron recently suggested the possibility of relocating the ceremony to either the Trocadero square or the Stade de France if security concerns escalate, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
“I trust in the system in place to secure this opening ceremony” said Estanguet, the president of the organising committee.
“It’s the first time ever the objective is to have the maximum of people enjoying this moment. It’s five times more than what happened in a stadium before…So it’s a great opportunity.”
Organisers had originally planned to accommodate some 600,000 people to watch the ceremony from riverbanks, but that has now been scaled down to 300,000. Tourists will not be given free access to watch the ceremony, as was originally planned. Instead, tickets will be by invitation only, not via open registration.
Security concerns
In October, France elevated its security threat level after a teacher was fatally stabbed in an Arras school. Subsequently, in December, a German individual perished while two others sustained injuries in a knife and hammer assault on a central Paris street. European security authorities have cautioned about an increasing risk of Islamist militant attacks, particularly amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Furthermore, concerns have been exacerbated following threats by the Islamic State group (IS) targeting Champions League quarter-final matches, including those in Paris.
Notably, last week, the Al-Azaim Foundation, a media outlet linked to the IS-K faction of the Islamist militant organization, disseminated a post. IS-K also claimed responsibility for the fatal assault at Crocus City Hall in Moscow the previous month.
“We should not be too naive” said Estanguet.
“We know that people would try to benefit from this international media exposure. But again, it’s up to us to remain calm to and to promote and defend what is most important in this event. And for me, it’s sport.
“We are working also with different countries around the world to make sure it will be a safe place during the games. And there is strong co-operation. So, we can be confident.”