The Evening Standard reports that the Paris 2012 bid suffered a blow with a “damning” report on the city’s transport network. French government transport officials warn in the report of crumbling roads, obsolete security systems and serious health risks from poor air quality in road tunnels.
But according to the International Olympic Committee’s Evaluation Commission report released this week, Paris’ roads “would comfortably cope” with Games traffic.
The French report says the major tunnels linking roads, rail and metro lines are fire risks, air quality in the tunnels poses a major health risk, roads can barely cope with existing traffic, and surveillance cameras and traffic control centres are obsolete with outdated computers frequently crashing and causing chaos.
The IOC evaluation commission report said Paris has a “well-maintained” road system.
Paris 2012 officials claim that the usual August cut in traffic would mean less congestion during the Games, reports the Evening Standard.
But, the newspaper writes that Parisians say air pollution is at its worst in the summer, with many commuters who use the main tunnel complaining of illness.
Meanwhile, Philippe Baudillon told the Associated Press Wednesday that France needs the 2012 Games to boost morale after the country’s recent rejection of the EU constitution. He said, “if Paris gets the Games it will be a fantastic moment for France to imagine the future very positively, and we need that”.
He added, “we want to convince all the IOC members that we are the good guys to work with”.
