PARIS (AP) – Striking workers rather than security threats are the pressing challenges for European Championship organizers right now, with less than two days until France hosts its biggest event since last year’s wave of extremist attacks.
France is anticipating around 10 million visitors for the month-long soccer showpiece, which kicks off on Friday with the host nation hosting Romania in Paris at the Stade de France.
But strikes by rail workers have this week seen services canceled on the SNCF train network, including from Geneva where tournament organizer UEFA is based. Air France pilots are also planning to strike from Saturday to Tuesday, infuriating Jacques Lambert, president of the Euro 2016 organizing committee.
After two months of massive strikes and demonstrations against labor laws, Lambert said it “worries us because it could affect the mobility” of teams, referees and supporters.
“We are very concerned by the strike movement of the Air France pilots,” Lambert said through a translator on Wednesday. “It is not a good situation for us, we will admit that. It is regrettable.