Security was the “main theme” of a press conference held by the Euro 2016 organizing committee on Wednesday, according to Nicolas Guillermin of L’HUMANITÉ. It will be a “real challenge” for organizers and authorities to guarantee the safety of the 2.5 million spectators expected to attend as well as the 24 national teams that will play 51 matches in 10 different host cities. Organizing Committee President Jacques Lambert said, “I’m not losing sleep over security, but it remains our primary concern. The organizers are responsible for the security inside stadiums, the team’s base camps, the hotels for officials and the international media center.” After the Nov. 13 Paris attacks, some basic security plans “were adjusted and reevaluated.” In each host city, French riot control forces (CRS) and police squads “will be deployed.” On average 900 private security agents will be at each match, a 30% “increase of the manpower used” for normal int’l matches. That number will be closer to 1,200 agents for the Stade de France, the site of an attempted attack in November. In total, some 10,000 officials “will be mobilized for security for the month.” The increased security has led to a 15% increase to the security budget, which now stands at €34M ($37M).
FANZONE CONCERNS: The existence of fanzones, for which the security will be handled by the municipalities, was “at one time threatened,” but they have now been confirmed in all 10 host cities. Lambert: “The security measures in place for the fanzones is quite similar to those implemented around the stadiums.” Again, security “clampdowns generate additional costs.” In Bordeaux the city will spend €4M ($4.4M) instead of the originally estimated €3M ($3.3M) “to secure its fanzone.” The state estimates that the fanzones will attract 7-8 million people throughout the competition. Interior Security Affairs Union (SCSI) Secretary General Jean-Marc Bailleul said, “Fanzones are not a good idea. They are closed spaces in an open environment. They represent an additional burden.” In response, Lambert said, “We must find the right balance between security and a festive event” (L’HUMANITÉ, 3/3).
