Euro 2016 in France 'faces real terror threat'
The threat of a terror attack at next year's Euro 2016 football championships in France is now a reality in the light of the shootings in Paris earlier this month, organizers admitted on Tuesday.
The recent terror attacks in Paris have made "tangible" the threat to the Euro 2016 tournament, organising committee president Jacques Lambert admitted on Tuesday.
"The terrorist risk was present from the beginning," Lambert told AFP.
"When I wrote the host bid in 2009, the terrorist threat was part of the 12 risks identified as major at an event like this.
"What the events in January have changed is that a theoretical risk has become a tangible risk, palpable, since it was carried through.
"It doesn't probably change much for the security professionals regarding preparations of the event."
"But you see that for everyone, public opinion, media, teams, it adds a special intensity," he explained.
Meanwhile, concerning sponsorship for the event, Lambert said that Euro 2016 would have six main partners, even if just one -- Francaise des Jeux, the operator of France's national lottery games -- has committed to date.
"It hasn't been reviewed downwards. Six partners is the objective and I'm almost certain that we will achieve it. Maybe a little later than initially planned," he said.
"The economic situation is what it is. I'm not worried, but it's an issue," said Lambert, who had said they were in talks with two big businesses, reported to be banking group Credit Agricole and SNCF, France's national state-owned railway company.
"As long as nothing has been signed, I'm confirming nothing, but I'm denying nothing regarding the two names you just cited," he said.
The European championships take place in France from June 10 to July 10, 2016.
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The recent terror attacks in Paris have made "tangible" the threat to the Euro 2016 tournament, organising committee president Jacques Lambert admitted on Tuesday.
"The terrorist risk was present from the beginning," Lambert told AFP.
"When I wrote the host bid in 2009, the terrorist threat was part of the 12 risks identified as major at an event like this.
"What the events in January have changed is that a theoretical risk has become a tangible risk, palpable, since it was carried through.
"It doesn't probably change much for the security professionals regarding preparations of the event."
"But you see that for everyone, public opinion, media, teams, it adds a special intensity," he explained.
Meanwhile, concerning sponsorship for the event, Lambert said that Euro 2016 would have six main partners, even if just one -- Francaise des Jeux, the operator of France's national lottery games -- has committed to date.
"It hasn't been reviewed downwards. Six partners is the objective and I'm almost certain that we will achieve it. Maybe a little later than initially planned," he said.
"The economic situation is what it is. I'm not worried, but it's an issue," said Lambert, who had said they were in talks with two big businesses, reported to be banking group Credit Agricole and SNCF, France's national state-owned railway company.
"As long as nothing has been signed, I'm confirming nothing, but I'm denying nothing regarding the two names you just cited," he said.
The European championships take place in France from June 10 to July 10, 2016.
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