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Euro 2016 in France must not be canceled, says chief organizer

Xinhua, November 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Euro 2016 finals in France should not be cancelled even though the risk levels have gone up after the deadly attacks in Paris, said the head of the organizing committee on Saturday.

   Already 129 people were confirmed to be killed and 352 wounded on Friday, with suicide bombing and gun-shooting taking place in various locations in the heart of the French capital late on Friday.

   "The risk had gone one level up in January. It has just gone higher," Euro 2016 chief Jacques Lambert told French radio RTL.

   "We will make the decisions we need to make so that the Euro finals can be held in the best security conditions. Security in stadiums works well, the risk is more in the streets, in spontaneous gatherings.

   "Wondering whether Euro 2016 must be cancelled is playing the game of the terrorists," said Lambert.

   As France hosted World Cup champions Germany and eventually won 2-0 at the Stade de France on Friday, three explosions were heard outside the national stadium, with the first of which happened just about 20 minutes after the friendly kicked off.

   Around 80,000 spectators were in the stadium north of Paris including French President Francois Hollande, who rushed back to the Interior Ministry from Stade de France and condemned the "unprecedented terrorist attacks".

   Spectators were held in the stadium and continued to watch the game till the end despite the panic atmosphere while police helicopters circled the stadium.

   Euro 2016 will be held from June 10-July 10.  Endi