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France is preparing to host millions of fans for the Rugby World Cup in a key test of the readiness of venues, transport infrastructure and security ahead of next summer’s Olympics.
France is seen as one of the favourites, along with Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand, where President Emmanuel Macron will be looking for patriotic momentum after a testing political period. In July, France sparked a week of unrest over the police shooting of unarmed teenager Nahel Merzouk, just as the government was trying to shake off months of protests over raising the retirement age.
“A team is bigger than individuals. A country is bigger than each of us,” Macron said during the visit. blues In training camp this week, he stood arm in arm with the players in a circle. “Make us proud and happy.”
Some 2.5 million tickets have been sold for the seven-week race, which takes place in nine cities including Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux and Toulouse, including 600,000 to overseas tourists. France, looking to win their first World Cup title, face New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday.
While Macron hopes the competition will inspire rare national unity, French officials are aware they will face intense scrutiny with the Summer Olympics 10 months away. The shadow of chaos at last year’s Champions League final in Paris has intensified planning for the rugby event, officials said.
“France, whose image has been damaged by the chaos of the Champions League, must now show that it is still capable of successfully staging major international sporting events,” said Pascal Boniface, a sports expert and head of Paris-based think tank Iris. sports politics.
Flawed traffic planning and chaotic security measures led to dangerous overcrowding around the Stade de France during last summer’s final, with police using tear gas on fans. The incident later devolved into a diplomatic spat with Britain after France and European football’s governing body UEFA accused Liverpool supporters of causing the scenes.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has pledged to deploy at least 5,000 police officers on matchdays and 7,500 for big games such as the final in late October. “This is unprecedented for a sporting event,” Dammanin said.
In addition to safety preparations, event organizers also intend to put on a show for fans. In Paris, a 40,000-capacity fan zone was established on the Place de la Concorde, featuring giant TV screens, sports events on a mini-rugby pitch, concerts and food and drink stands.
“We wanted a very spectacular location as a backdrop,” said Pierre Rabadan, a former professional rugby player who now heads sports-related affairs at the Paris mayor’s office. “When Olympic sports like skateboarding, breakdancing and three-on-three basketball are held in the same place, it will be a harbinger of what’s to come.”
On the pitch, France will enter the game with home advantage in third. But Ireland are also chasing their first win, having just won the Six Nations and arguably going to be the team to beat.
Ireland face a test against second-placed South Africa in the group stage. The game, and France’s opening game, will be closely watched to see if the two European teams are capable of winning or if they will be overtaken by the two most successful nations in the competition, the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springboks. team surpassed.
Former England defender Jonny Wilkinson says France are “hard to beat” and Ireland are “super physical and direct” and both sides can win the World Cup. His final goal won the 2003 World Cup for England, the only northern hemisphere team to win the tournament.
“People take for granted that these two teams know so well, especially with a team like Scotland, they’re sure to ruin someone’s party,” said Wilkinson, an ambassador for World Cup sponsor Capgemini.
The World Cup comes amid renewed scrutiny of rugby’s handling of players’ concussion and other injury risks, while some leagues, such as England, suffer from serious financial troubles. In France, the sport has grown in popularity, although its viewership and broadcast revenues are still far smaller than football.
Rugby union executives hope staging the tournament in one of its most popular tourist destinations will attract new fans from around the world, including the underpenetrated U.S. market.
“Every four years the game is definitely a pivotal moment for the sport because it draws so much attention,” New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson said. “So it’s important that it It’s about being at your best and being loved.”
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