Sawt Falasteen - Macron seeks to calm concerns over Paris 2024 Olympics

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 and open to the world.

But as the opening ceremony on July 26, 2024 draws closer, concerns have grown not just over costs but also security preparations.

France's reputation as a reliable host of sporting events took a major battering following the chaos that marred the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris on May 28, which 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 committee, the three-time Olympic slalom canoe champion Tony Estanguet.

"The president emphasised that we are only 24 months away from the Olympics, and constant mobilisation is needed," said a presidential official, asking not to be named.

Organisers also revealed their official slogan -- "Games Wide Open" -- and said 13 million tickets will be sold for the Olympics and Paralympics, with nearly half of those reserved for the public set to be sold at less than 50 euros ($51).

Macron also met International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach after the gathering, the Elysee said.

- 'Very tight' -

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

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

But rising inflation means savings have to be made and so far not enough 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, adding the extent of the challenge would be clear in the autumn.

The Elysee official said that a "dialogue had now started" with the International Olympic Committee over where savings can be made.

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.

In addition to the French security forces, over 20,000 private security agents need to be hired to ensure the Games can proceed.

Estanguet insisted that Macron had been preparing "from the first day".

But he acknowledged: "In recent months, the situation distanced him a bit away from the Games project, so he wanted to reconnect with the different subjects," he said.

- 'Becoming urgent' -

France's top audit body, the Cour des Comptes, has warned in a report that it is "imperative" to ramp up preparations to deal with the "considerable" security challenge.

"A more precise definition of security needs is becoming urgent," said the report, the initial version of a study that will be published later this year. It was first revealed by the Canard Enchaine weekly and then seen by AFP.

The report also suggests scaling down the opening ceremony, which is set to feature an armada of 200 boats and some 600,000 spectators.

The Le Monde daily said the prospect of the river opening ceremony -- with spectators packed on the banks of the Seine -- was giving the organisers "cold sweats".

The Games will pose a unique challenge. The showcase athletics and swimming events are due to be held in Seine-Saint-Denis north of Paris, one of the lowest-income areas in France, with a cluster of events in the centre of the capital.

Sailing events will take place at the other end of the country in the Mediterranean city of Marseille, while the surfing will be in the Pacific territory of French Polynesia, on the other side of the world.

W.Mansour--SF-PST