Games organisers will hope for peaceful reaction to French election: ex-IOC executive

A French Gendarmerie officer patrols near the Eiffel Tower in Paris on July 1. PARIS – The key risk to the Paris Games from the political uncertainty gripping France is public disturbances that could impact the already-stretched security services, a former International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive said on July 1. The far-right National Rally (RN) party of Marine Le Pen won a resounding victory in the first round of snap legislative elections on June 30, with President Emmanuel Macron’s centrists trailing in third behind a left-wing coalition.

A second round of voting takes place on July 7, just 19 days before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. A hung parliament could lead to months of political paralysis and chaos – just as Paris is hosting the July 26-Aug 11 Games. Paris 2024 chief organiser Tony Estanguet said on July 2 he was focused on preparations, rather than the political turmoil.



He said: “We are now in the final phase...

“I want us to respect this major democratic moment and we need to stay in our place so that French people can enjoy these Games which they can’t wait to see.” Paris’ Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo, in response to RN’s successes, added: “The party will not be spoilt. The festival will be a beautiful one.

I say to visitors from all over the world – come over! Because Paris is the city which still stands for freedom and is a city of resistance.” Meanwhile, Michael Payne, former head of marketing at the IOC, said the .