Europe 1 with AFP 5:47 p.m., January 23, 2024
President Emmanuel Macron estimated Tuesday that the “challenge” of increasing the transport offer this summer in Paris during the Olympic Games was “massive” but “within our reach”.
“We need to have 15% additional offer during the Games, on a network which, usually during the summer, is reduced by 20%. This is the challenge that is ours and therefore it is massive” , underlined the President of the Republic during his “Olympic wishes” this Tuesday in front of an audience of athletes at Insep.
“There are segments where the pressure will certainly be strong, but we will get there with the operators, with the communities. It is within our reach,” he insisted.
Skeptical residents
“To this end, the government will ensure that everyone can fully anticipate and benefit from day-by-day recommendations on the fluidity of public transport and entry conditions on the various security perimeters,” assured the Head of State. We will make this information public in the coming days, with support for individuals and businesses alike.”
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Faced with "operating incidents" on certain metro lines and unreasonable waits at bus stops, residents of Ile-de-France are skeptical about the capacity of transport to accommodate the 600 to 800,000 additional travelers per day for the Olympics .
A concern publicly relayed by the socialist mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo.
During this unprecedented ceremony of wishes to athletes and organizers of Paris-2024, Emmanuel Macron put back a little "healthy pressure", according to his own formula.
He thus judged "more achievable than ever" the objective he set for French athletes to reach the "Olympic Top 5" of the countries with the most medals at the Games in six months.
“I don’t want to put excessive pressure, I have put it every time, I will continue to put it. It’s healthy pressure. But then I trust everyone,” he said.