Fanzones will be under tight security for Euro 2016, Valls says

Mar 31, 2016 French Prime Minister Manuel Valls recently reiterated that the Fanzones will be under tight security for the Euro 2016 tournament.

According to him, Fanzones, which are public areas for thousands of soccer supporters to watch games on big screens, will be subjected to the same security checks as stadiums.

Speaking during a television interview, he said:

“We’re expecting 7,000-8,000 people during the Euro, and that’s only in the fanzones. These fanzones, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and I discussed it with all the mayors and notably the president of the cities organising the Euro, Alain Juppe, to make sure that safety is ensured, with the same number of forces, the same methods as we have in the stadiums. This means, secured areas that are closed, with pat-downs, bag checks, and at the same time the celebration can continue,”

In Paris, the fanzone will be situated on the Champs de Mars, below the Eiffel Tower and Valls said he hoped the tournament will encourage tourism, which has dropped since the attacks on the French capital.

“I hope that the tourists who have not returned (to Paris) since Nov. 13 will come back for this occasion, to celebrate, to share a moment, to watch matches on the big screen,”