French President Emmanuel Macron has said the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics would be moved if there is a serious risk of a terrorist attack, adding that backup plans were in place to deal with any such contingency.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics would be moved if there is a serious risk of a terrorist attack, adding that backup plans were in place to deal with any such contingency. In less than four months, Paris will be hosting the biggest sporting carnival on the planet with the opening ceremony taking place on the iconic Seine river. However, a recent upsurge in threats from terrorists has soured the anticipation surrounding the quadrennial event. “If we think there are risks, depending on our analysis of the context, we have fallback scenarios. There are plans B and C and we are preparing them in parallel," said Macron in a television interview on Monday (Apr 15). Notably, the organisers have planned a 'world first' opening ceremony, scheduled for July 26, when over 300,000 people are expected to watch an armada of boats carrying national teams down the river. “We’ll be analysing the situation in real-time and preparing a ceremony that would be limited to Trocadéro, where we wouldn’t use the whole of the Seine, or even a ceremony that would bring the public to the Stade de France, which is what has been done traditionally,” Macron said. “What the terrorists want is to prevent us from dreaming, and that’s their greatest victory," he added. Also read | Paris Olympic 2024: World Athletics announces $50,000 prize money to gold medallists at upcoming games France is on high alert Macron's statement comes in the backdrop of the Moscow concert hall attack last month after which France has been on maximum security alert. ISIS took responsibility for the attacks and most recently, threatened to attack venues hosting the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal matches, including Paris Saint-Germain's match against Barcelona at the Parc des Princes. Moreover, the French president's admission comes after Olympic officials claimed that there was no plan B for the opening ceremony. Also read | Paris Olympic 2024: France-based NGO warns of high bacterial pollution level in Seine river ahead of games According to reports, a security perimeter and a red zone will be set up eight days before the opening ceremony. As many as 30,000 police and gendarmes (paramilitary officers) would be on duty every day during the duration of the Games. Additionally, 20,000 private security staff will be in action as well. (With inputs from agencies)

Paris Olympics opening ceremony could be moved in case of terror threat, hints Emmanuel Macron

French President Emmanuel&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;voiced regret on Friday for starting campaigning&nbsp;late&nbsp;as opinion polls showed him holding a slender&nbsp;lead over the far-right candidate Marine&nbsp;Le&nbsp;Pen, who he warned would scare investors away from France.

Le&nbsp;Pen&nbsp;has surged in the polls in recent weeks and is expected to face off in the second round against&nbsp;Macron, whose re-election was thought to be a foregone conclusion even a few weeks ago.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-opens-tax-fraud-probe-over-consultancies-in-government-468999">&nbsp;France opens tax fraud probe over consultancies in government</a>

Macron&nbsp;is still ahead in the polls for the second-round match-up, but his&nbsp;lead is within the margin of error.

"Who could have understood six weeks ago that all of sudden I would start political rallies, that I would focus on domestic issues when the war started in Ukraine,"&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;told RTL radio.

"So it is a fact that I entered (the campaign) even&nbsp;later than I wished,"&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;said, adding that he retained a "spirit of conquest rather than of defeat."

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: France Election: Anti-semitism takes centrestage

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-france-election-anti-semitism-takes-centrestage-468946/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

If&nbsp;Le&nbsp;Pen&nbsp;is elected this month, her social programme will drive away international investors,&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;said in an interview with daily&nbsp;Le&nbsp;Parisien.

"Her program will create massive unemployment because it will drive international investors away and it will not hold up budget-wise," he said.

"Her fundamentals have not changed: it is a racist program that aims to divide society and is very brutal."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-and-le-pen-battle-over-pensions-as-french-election-race-tightens-468274">Macron and Le Pen battle over pensions as French election race tightens</a>

Le&nbsp;Pen&nbsp;told France Info radio on Friday: "Emmanuel&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;does not know my program... he must think it is that of (far-left contender) Jean-Luc Melenchon."

French President Emmanuel Macron voiced regret on Friday for starting campaigning late as opinion polls showed him holding a slender lead over the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who he warned would scare investors away from France.

French President Emmanuel Macron voiced regret on Friday for starting campaigning late as opinion polls showed him holding a slender lead over the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who he warned would scare investors away from France. Le Pen has surged in the polls in recent weeks and is expected to face off in the second round against Macron, whose re-election was thought to be a foregone conclusion even a few weeks ago. Also read | France opens tax fraud probe over consultancies in government Macron is still ahead in the polls for the second-round match-up, but his lead is within the margin of error. "Who could have understood six weeks ago that all of sudden I would start political rallies, that I would focus on domestic issues when the war started in Ukraine," Macron told RTL radio. "So it is a fact that I entered (the campaign) even later than I wished," Macron said, adding that he retained a "spirit of conquest rather than of defeat." Watch | Gravitas: France Election: Anti-semitism takes centrestage If Le Pen is elected this month, her social programme will drive away international investors, Macron said in an interview with daily Le Parisien. "Her program will create massive unemployment because it will drive international investors away and it will not hold up budget-wise," he said. "Her fundamentals have not changed: it is a racist program that aims to divide society and is very brutal." Also read | Macron and Le Pen battle over pensions as French election race tightens Le Pen told France Info radio on Friday: "Emmanuel Macron does not know my program... he must think it is that of (far-left contender) Jean-Luc Melenchon."

Macron regrets entering France's presidential race late as Le Pen cuts lead

"The virus is spreading across France at a speed that even the most pessimistic did not predict... As elsewhere in Europe, we are overwhelmed by a second wave that will probably be more difficult and deadly than the first," Macron said.

'COVID-19's 2nd wave will be more difficult and deadly', says Emmanuel Macron

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Paris Olympics opening ceremony could be moved in case of terror threat, hints Emmanuel Macron

Macron regrets entering France's presidential race late as Le Pen cuts lead

'COVID-19's 2nd wave will be more difficult and deadly', says Emmanuel Macron