Officials in France announced that the opening ceremonies of July’s Olympic Games in Paris will be scaled back due to terror-related security concerns. The restrictions reportedly came at the request of President Emmanuel Macron.
During a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin disclosed that the four-mile boat parade in Paris, celebrating the start of the quadrennial event, would be limited to a maximum attendance of 326,000 individuals.
The minister highlighted potential threats from Al Qaeda and the Islamic State as the reason for the new security policy.
Darmanin elaborated that under the new proposal, 104,000 paying spectators will have the opportunity to witness the procession from the banks of the Seine River, with the remaining spots being limited to peripheral locations along the route. Access to the non-waterfront spaces will be allocated by the International Olympic Committee and the French government.
Previously, organizing authorities suggested that as many as 600,000 people could be in attendance.
The event is planned to be the first time that the Olympics will be inaugurated outside of an athletic arena.
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