The dissolution of the National Assembly by Emmanuel Macron plunged the country into a period of uncertainty. Less than 40 days before their opening, the Paris Olympics are no exception to the rule. According to many observers, however, many things are already firmly in place.
Can the dissolution of the National Assembly and the early legislative elections (June 30 and July 7) modify the rules of the Games? Asked in these terms, the question may be surprising. But less than forty days before the opening ceremony, on July 26, the period of political instability in which the country is plunged inevitably risks having an impact on the Olympic high mass prepared for seven years.
“Nothing will spoil the party”hastened to promise Thomas Bach, the German president of the IOC, echoing the press release from the Organizing Committee which is just as reassuring: “We are ready to deliver the Games. We are in an operational phase and all the major decisions have been taken a long time ago.”
Olympic Games-2030 in the Alps: cold snap from the IOC
The early legislative elections in France, which make the future contours of the government uncertain, affect the candidacy of the French Alps for the 2030 Winter Olympics: the IOC will only designate them as host on July 24 if it has received the public guarantees required. “The current political situation in France”i.e. the dissolution of the National Assembly on Sunday with a vote expected on June 30 and July 7, “did not finalize the documents”indicated Wednesday the executive commission of the Olympic body, meeting in Lausanne.
As expected, the body followed the advice of its future host commission by “recommending” the French Alps as the sole candidate for the 2030 Olympics, and the American city of Salt Lake City for the following edition of the Winter Games. , in 2034, the penultimate step before this double attribution
The final decision will be made by the members of the Olympic organization meeting for their 142nd session in Paris on July 24, two days before the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games.
But if this vote was announced as a formality since the entry of the French Alps into “exclusive dialogue” with the IOC, last November, it is now “subject to the surrender” of the financial commitments of the State and the two regions concerned, warned Karl Stoss, president of the commission for the future host of the Winter Games. This concerns the guarantee of delivery of the Games by the French government, and the “partnership contribution to the organizing budget” of the Olympic Games, from the two regions Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d ‘Azur and the French State.
The Olympic delivery guarantee “shall be signed by the person who can bind the government”, explained Christophe Dubi, the executive director of the Games within the IOC. However, no one knows who will lead the French government between the legislative elections and July 24.
The French National Olympic Committee said it was confident in the guarantees that the State and the regions concerned could very quickly provide.
The COJO remains the sole project manager
The COJO recalls that it remains the prime contractor in shared governance with the sports movement, the State but also “many public and civil society actors.”
“The organization of the Olympics was entrusted to a committee independent of the political context led by Tony Estanguet who is a very efficient and dynamic person. The government, the region, the sports movement are in it but it is the committee which organizes and who is responsible for the success of the Games”confirms former minister Michel Barnier, who was co-president of the Albertville 92 Games (he was then president of the General Council of Savoie).
“Like a new liner launched towards the water and nothing will stop”
“Once they are launched, it is irremediable, he assures. Like an ocean liner that you built in a shipyard and it begins to descend towards the waters. Nothing will stop him. Even if there is a change of minister following the elections, there will be a permanent administration to manage the files.”
If the Macronist majority crumbles in the Assembly, key ministers in charge of issues could however jump in flight, notably Gérald Darmanin (Interior) and Amélie Oudéa-Castéra (Youth and Sport).
“A possible new government will not be in place before mid-July at best, operational rather at the end of July and serious things will not begin until September” tempers Jean-Loup Chapelet, specialist in Olympics at the University of Lausanne. An analysis shared by many constitutional experts, who believe that the establishment of a new government is likely to be long and complex.
Security: additional overload for police officers
The main concern could concern the impact on the security system, against a backdrop of an aggravated terrorist threat and when a planned attack has already been foiled in Saint-Étienne. “There is a police chief and a regional prefect who are in place and will not move, I have no concerns in that regard,” further reassures Michel Barnier.
“On the device itself, there will be no change, otherwise it would be catastrophic”, confirms Bruno Bartocetti. The Montpellier resident, responsible in the south for the Unité police union (affiliated with Force Ouvrière) especially fears “an overload of activity with all the movements that there are likely to be during this period of uncertainty, whether demonstrations or gatherings. And this while we must continue to ensure Vigipirate and that our agents have already canceled their leave to strengthen Paris during the Games and ensure the Province at the same time.”
All in a political context “increasingly violent and while the number of injured police officers has increased to 15,000 per year compared to 10,000 just 7 or 8 years ago.”
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A disrupted rise in power
Still, the legislative campaign risks “gobble up attention and disrupt the rise of the Games”, according to some observers. Others fear actually seeing “to fracture” the desired national unity behind the event, emphasizing that such an election in a host country less than a month before the opening is undoubtedly a first.
Athletes’ reactions: “The feeling of being in a reality show”
After a few hours of astonishment, the French athletes begin to speak. On Saturday, a few minutes apart, footballer Marcus Thuram, in Germany for the Euro, and swimmer Florent Manaudou, in Chartres where he is participating in the French Championships, spoke on the political situation in the country. Sunday, Kylian Mbappé positioned himself against “the extremes”.
“She is sad, very serious, lamented Marcus Thuram. This is the sad reality of society today… We must go and vote, tell everyone to go and vote and above all that as citizens, you, I, we must fight on a daily basis so as not to it happens again, so that the RN does not pass. »
If the dissolution in the National Assembly does not “disturb him in (his) sport”, the Olympic champion in the 50m freestyle, in 2012 in London, did not hide his disappointment. “I have the impression that we have become a reality TV at the political level,” admitted the man who hopes to be the standard bearer of the Blues next summer in Paris. It was already a little complicated to trust politicians after all these years… On the right and on the left, everyone is shooting each other to get a position. I find it a shame not to fight for ideas but to have a seat. »
MR and DM
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Finally, there is the risk of seeing the image of the Games, but also that of the country, damaged if Paris had to welcome the world with a newly appointed far-right Prime Minister. “I think that the French are led to ask themselves who they want to lead the country but also who they want to welcome the world”clearly stated Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera.
“I have confidence, we must hope for the success of the Games”
The Olympics held hostage on the political altar? We are certainly not there and we dare to believe that the head of state has not embarked on such calculations. But the imminence of the Games could well weigh on the choice of certain voters.
“I have confidence, these Games have been well prepared, assures Michel Barnier. We must hope for the success of the Olympic Games, it is a question of national intelligence for a tourist country like ours.”
Albertville 1992: the fear of fog
Michel Barnier, co-president of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, remembers another threat: “A problem related to the weather since our opening ceremony on February 8, 92 was planned in an open-air stadium. Philippe Decouflé’s show was repeated a week before the hour, and we didn’t see the other side of the stadium because of the fog we ended up having very good weather on the opening day.”
The former co-president of the 1992 winter games remembers the national unity necessary for their success: “The Mitterrand government at the time was very unpopular but with Jean-Claude Killy, we had worked on good terms with him. When I thanked the Prime Minister at the time, Edith Cresson, for her support, during the closing ceremony, the whole stadium had whistled for it”. Proof that sport does not always succeed in making us forget the economic and political context.
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