Macron stirs up French Olympic ambitions as policing clouds hover

President Emmanuel Macron produced a stirring speech to athletes on Tuesday as France's preparations for this summer's Games gather pace.

"I count on you not only to bring medals, but to inspire the youth. Do your best," he told members of the French judo team at France's National Institute of Sport and Performance (INSEP).

"Are you ready?," he then told the coaches. "Anyway, you're under big pressure."

Macron, who said France were able to finish in the "top five of the medals table", then addressed 1,000 guests, among them some 500 athletes, to stress that France would be ready for the "unique opportunity" that a home Games offered.

"We will pursue our efforts after 2024 as we also have to organize the 2030 Winter Games (in Nice), I give you my word it will be the case until the end of my term in 2027," he added. "Our organization needs to be beyond reproach."

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The Paris 2024 Games will be held from July 26 to August 11, while the Paralympics will be from August 28 to September 8.

However, medals and flawless organization will not be the only things the French president will be hoping for in the summer. 

French police officers have threatened to boycott the Olympics if their demands for bonuses, holiday leave and child care are not met. 

Hundreds of officers demonstrated in cities across the country last week to voice their anger. "Without agreement, the Olympic Games will be without us," one union member shouted from a stage set up outside the Paris Town Hall.

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The Games are expected to attract 15 million people and to ensure public safety the government has called for "100 percent mobilization" of the police force. Up to 500,000 are expected to attend the opening ceremony on the banks of the River Seine, with 30,000 law enforcement officers on site to secure the event.

Officers are demanding compensation and want guarantees on summer holiday leave, bonuses of up to $2,200 and social support during the Olympics, in particular child care assistance.

"The Olympics were decided in 2017 and so far the administration has not given us any answers about how we're going to look after our children this summer, because we're being asked to be 100 percent present with no bonus and no means of child care," said one officer.

There have been reports the Interior Ministry has been given a $550 million-fund for security forces during the Olympics. Some reports are also saying the government is offering agents 10 working days off between June 15 and September 15, as well as a $550 bonus.

Macron and his government will obviously want the negotiations to wrap up as quickly as possible, but some officers have insisted demonstrations will escalate until they get what they want.

"We are capable of blockading all the police stations in France, the borders and the airports," said Loic Dessertenne, who has been an officer since 2007. "This is a warning. If the government doesn't listen to us and give us concrete measures, we'll go even harder."

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