José Manuel Constantino cites political situation, cyber attacks
The president of the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) is apprehensive about Paris2024 – starting on Friday – given the ‘general framework’ in which the event is taking place. The ‘political situation’ in France adds to a long list of concerns, José Manuel Constantino tells Lusa.
When asked if he is more worried about the course of these Olympic Games than he had been about previous ones, he said yes, he is.
The ‘political situation’ in France (following the divisive parliamentary elections and resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal) is a new factor for this apprehension, on top of several others, he said.
“The (games) in Brazil (Rio2016) weren’t great”, he recalled, citing simple organisational issues back then like a lack of air conditioning/ the need to buy mattresses… This time around he is more worried about mobility and security.
“Not just physical security, but also cyber security”, he said, stressing that he believes “one of the main threats to the Games is not so much the possibility of physical attacks, but the possibility of sabotage in the area of computer systems.
“Travelling to the competition venues, mobility within the city itself… all this worries me. But I think it worries me more than the French and the organisers, who have solutions for everything (…) I hope they’re right and that my doubts have no reason to exist”, he said.
“The COP president is convinced that between Friday and August 11 (when the games end), attempts will be made to restrict the event, namely through demonstrations, strikes, or blockades”, writes Lusa.
“There have already been, and there will continue to be. We’ve also had training sessions with the intelligence services, with SIS (Security Intelligence Service) in Portugal. (…) They were also at the training session with the athletes, advising on precautions and care to be taken in several areas that are within our reach. Others aren’t”, said Constantino.
The difficulties that the Portuguese delegation will encounter in Paris and at the competition venues throughout France just add to problems that the Portuguese Olympic Committee and counterparts from other countries have faced before, with the current Mission to Paris2024 “being the most expensive ever”, he added.
“Very high prices, especially for accommodation and participation fees, so the costs are incomparably higher than those we had in Tokyo, which was supposed to be the most expensive city in the world!”
Portugal is being represented in Paris2024 by 73 athletes in 15 sports.
Source: LUSA
