Europe

Hollande: Euro 2016 will be success despite extremism threat

Associated Press
Published | Updated

French President Francois Hollande arrives to welcome Paraguay's President Horacio Cartes prior to their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Friday, June 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) (The Associated Press)

A security guard looks at the Euro 2016 fan zone, under construction on the Champs de Mars in Paris, Friday, June 3, 2016. France's interior minister says the Paris police chief wants more security staff to protect fans at the 2016 European Championship, which starts next week. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) (The Associated Press)

French President Francois Hollande says that the threat of extremism won't stop the European Championship soccer tournament from being successful.

Hollande said in an interview on Sunday with France Inter radio that precautionary measures throughout the matches, including a 90,000-strong security force, will ensure the matches scattered in 10 French cities are safe.

Hollande said France decided to go ahead with Euro 2016 despite two waves of attacks last year, and make it a "festival for people and for sports."

But he said that spectators at the monthlong tournament, which starts on Friday, must accept security checks as they enter stadiums and fan zones.

Hollande added that "this threat, alas, will exist for a long time so we must guarantee this great event ... is successful. It will be."