World Cup Organizing Committee co-President Michel
Platini was quoted in a French paper as saying that French
officials aren't providing enough support to the event,
according to the AP's Barry Wilner. Platini: "France has
done what it had to do, but nothing more. Take the big
party in Paris on 'Day 1,' for example. Can you believe that
it's been hard to get authorizations? They don't give a
damn." Platini said the opening festivities cost $8.3M to
organize. In other news, Wilner reports that the strike by
Air France pilots "shows no signs of ending soon and is
certain to disrupt the World Cup." Wilner adds that French
authorities have "continued their vigilant campaign against
terrorist threats to disrupt the event" (AP/SALT LAKE
TRIBUNE, 6/9). In L.A. Helene Elliott previews the event
and wonders, "Will it come to be know as the most
entertaining World Cup ever staged ... or merely the most
star-crossed tournament because of problems with hooligans
or terrorism?" (L.A. TIMES, 6/9). In Chicago, Bonnie
DiSimone previews the host country's efforts: "Since they
landed this event, Parisians are determined to have it
reflect well of them. If there is one thing the fractious
French hold as a collective societal value, it is a horror
of being embarrassed" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/9).
