The Eiffel Tower is illuminated with the French national colors in tribute to the victims of the November 13, 2015 Paris terror attacks. Photo: AFP
Almost one in two Parisians believe hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics is a 'bad thing', with transport and security their biggest concerns, according to a poll eight months before the event.
Some 44 percent of Paris region residents expressed a negative opinion while 65 percent of French residents said having the Olympics in Paris from July 26-August 11 was a 'good thing', the Odoxa poll for Winamax and RTL showed.
Some 1207 Paris region residents, and 1005 French residents were polled.
Two years ago, only 22 percent of Parisians had a negative opinion of the Paris Olympics while more than half of them are now considering leaving the region for the duration of the event.
By contrast, 64 percent of Parisians are confident that the opening ceremony on the Seine river will be a success.
Calls for vigilance amid disinformation campaign
Meanwhile, Games organisers have called for vigilance after French security services said they had uncovered a disinformation campaign emanating from Azerbaijan that aimed to undermine Paris's capacity to hold the event.
The campaign, which included pictures and a video showing clashes between French police and protesters that were seen by millions of people, ran with the slogan #boycottparis2024 following riots in Paris at the end of June, according to VIGINUM, the watchdog that monitors foreign digital interference.
"Between now and the Games, Paris 2024 will continue to monitor, in conjunction with the relevant authorities, the veracity of information circulating about the event and its organisation," Paris 2024 said in a statement on Wednesday.
It said the media, opinion leaders and the public should check the authenticity of information on social networks with official sources before passing it on.
VIGINUM said it had been unable to link the campaign directly to Azerbaijani authorities.
Neither the Azeri government nor the president's office were available for comment. The Azeri embassy in Paris did not respond to a request for comment.
- Reuters