France to Skip 2018 Winter Games If Security Not Assured

France to Skip 2018 Winter Games If Security Not Assured
France Minister of Sport Laura Flessel gives a speech at the presentation of Paris 2024 at the 131st IOC session in Lima, Peru on Sept. 13, 2017. REUTERS/Mariana Bazo
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Olympics organizers sought on Friday to ease French concerns about next year’s winter Games in South Korea, saying the safety of athletes was their priority and nations in the region had no doubts that the event would go ahead.

With tensions on the Korean peninsula rising, France on Thursday became the first nation to publicly raise the possibility of skipping the Feb. 9-25 Pyeongchang Olympics on security grounds.