The City of Paris cancels a press briefing by Anne Hidalgo at the last minute in the midst of controversy over the Olympics

2023-11-28 22:27:44

The lights, but without the sound. The City of Paris canceled a press briefing at the last minute on Tuesday evening where the mayor of the capital, Anne Hidalgo, was to speak. An intervention as part of the inauguration of the new look of the Town Hall, decorated in the colors of the Olympic Games eight months before the start of the 2024 Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11), in the presence of the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach and the head of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, Tony Estanguet.

But there was no appearance in front of the media, contrary to what was announced by the press service of the City of Paris on Friday. Behind the scenes, we talk about “a hiccup”. According to our information, the press point was canceled at the last minute. Anne Hidalgo arrived at the Town Hall square at 6:20 p.m. with Tony Estanguet and Thomas Bach. The lights went out, the show lasted two to three minutes and… End of sequence. Everyone left without a word. The sixty journalists present on site were surprised by this change of heart.

Criticized for its outing on transport

This sudden change in planning comes in a difficult context for the city councilor. On Wednesday, Anne Hidalgo indicated on the set of the TMC show “Quotidien” that transport would “not be ready” in view of the deadline for the Games, arousing the anger of the minister dedicated to this subject Clément Beaune, of the Minister of Sports and the Olympic Games, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra as well as the president of the Ile-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse.

One controversy after another. Anne Hidalgo had been criticized by her opposition for a trip, both official and private to Tahiti where she participated in working meetings on the Games, the surfing event of which took place on the waves of this Pacific island, without going to the competition site.

The mayor of Paris is expected to participate in a new press briefing on Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m., organized by the Paris police headquarters. Police Chief Laurent Nuñez will present the security perimeters put in place around the sites for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.