France says it has asked 46 countries if they would be willing to supply more than 2,000 police officers to help secure this summer, as organizers finalize security planning for the French capital's first Games in a century while against potential attacks.
The Interior Ministry said Friday that the request for foreign security assistance was made in January, seeking nearly 2,185 reinforcements. The officers are sought to help with Games security and 鈥渢he spectator experience鈥� and to 鈥渟trengthen international cooperation," the ministry said.
鈥淭his is a classic approach of host countries for the organization of major international events,鈥� the ministry added.
It noted that France sent 200 of its gendarmes to soccer's and also welcomed 160 officers from other European security forces for the that France hosted last year.
Separately, the French Defense Ministry has also asked foreign nations for 鈥渟mall numbers鈥� of military personnel who could help with 鈥渧ery specific" tasks at the Games, including sniffer dog teams, said Col. Pierre Gaudilli猫re, spokesman for the army general staff.
Poland's defense minister said his country will be sending soldiers to the Paris Games. The Polish armed forces delegation will include dog handlers and 鈥渋ts main goal will be to undertake activities related to the detection of explosives and counteracting terrorist phenomena.鈥� the minister, W艂adys艂aw Kosiniak-Kamysz, posted on X.
Security is the biggest challenge for Paris Games organizers in a city that has been by Islamic extremists and which is expecting as many as 15 million visitors for the July 26-Aug. 11 Games and Paralympics that follow.
Security concerns are notably high for , which will involve boats along and huge crowds watching from the embankments.
France鈥檚 government increased its security alert posture to the highest level in the wake of the recent and the Islamic State鈥檚 claim of responsibility.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced the decision in a post on X, saying authorities were 鈥渢aking into account the Islamic State鈥檚 claim of responsibility for the (Moscow) attack and the threats weighing on our country.鈥�
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Associated Press writer Monika Scislowska in Warsaw contributed.
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AP Olympics coverage:
John Leicester, The Associated Press
