PARIS—France vowed drastic measures to ensure the smooth running of Euro 2016 as strikes and terror fears threatened to overshadow Europe’s showcase football event, which kicks off Friday.
The action on the pitch starts when hosts France face Romania in the Stade de France in Paris at 1900 GMT, but industrial unrest and jitters over a potential terror attack have blighted the build-up to the tournament.
As train drivers vowed to disrupt services to the stadium, President Francois Hollande said he would take “all necessary measures” to ensure the championships run without a hitch.
“I will be paying close attention… and if decisions need to be made, they will be made,” Hollande said. “Public services will be provided… The whole of Europe will be watching.”
Transport Minister Alain Vidalies warned that striking rail workers might be ordered back to work.
Vidalies told Europe 1 radio the government would use “every tool available” to get fans to the opening match and “if we have to issue orders tomorrow (for trains to be driven), we will do so.”
And Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo promised that the rubbish that has been piling up in the capital for two days due to an ongoing strike would be collected, as hundreds of thousands of fans begin to arrive for the championships.
“Of course, all the rubbish will be collected… it is already being collected today,” Hidalgo told French TV.
Up to 90,000 police and private security guards will protect players and supporters the tournament, which is taking place just seven months after coordinated Islamic State attacks in Paris killed 130 people.
The massive security operation got its first real test on Thursday when superstar French DJ David Guetta gave a free performance in the fan zone at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
Some 80,000 spectators had to pass through two checkpoints and stringent security searches.