Australia’s Chef de Mission Anna Meares said on Wednesday (April 17) that while security was the first subject athletes raised with her about the Olympics, she had full confidence that Paris would put on a safe Games in 100 day’s time.
France raised its security alert to its highest level last month and President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that alternatives to holding the July 26 opening ceremony on the river Seine had been prepared in case they were needed.
Security is also at the forefront of Australians’ minds in the wake of two major stabbing attacks in Sydney in the space of three days, the first on Saturday at a shopping center close to where Meares was speaking that resulted in six deaths and 12 injuries.
The twice Olympic cycling champion, speaking at the launch of the team’s opening ceremony uniform at Clovelly beach, was equally sanguine about reports that the water quality in the Seine might force the cancellation of the triathlon’s swimming segment.
Australia finished sixth on the medals table with 17 gold medals in Tokyo three years ago but Meares was reluctant to predict how the Paris team, which she hopes will number as many as 480 athletes, would perform.
(Production: Cordelia Hsu)
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