PARIS - France will mobilise a massive security force if Paris were awarded the 2012 Olympic Games, officials told an IOC inspection team in the French capital on Friday.
Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin told the inspection team: "Security is a key factor for the Olympic Games."
De Villepin said the government would be able to mobilise day and night a force of 41,000 policemen and soldiers, 3,200 firemen and 2,500 first aid personnel.
The objective of the massive, unprecedented deployment of force was to ensure that all spectators and athletes could take part in the Games in "complete security," de Villepin said.
A day after a series of nationwide strikes by trade unions, French President Jacques Chirac told the IOC inspection team that the bid had the "complete backing of France and the French people.
"France is today ready to become, for the 30th Olympiad, the homeland of the Olympic movement. I support with all my strength, all my conviction and all my determination a candidacy that French women and men support with all their heart."
Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin earlier called for an "Olympic pact between all French people" to ensure Paris wins the bid for the Games.
"It's not the candidacy of one city but of all French women and men," Raffarin said at a function attended by the IOC team.
"We expressed France's desire to strongly and wholeheartedly support the candidacy of Paris for the 2012 Olympic Games," Raffarin said.
"We think our country needs the Olympic Games for its development, for lasting development, to make it attractive. We have presented the assets of France but also the desires of France.
"We did this in a framework of national unity because it is an issue that must bring together the whole nation to promote France and enhance the Olympic spirit."
Raffarin's call was heeded by 150 star French chefs.
"We are committed to strongly and loyally supporting Paris' bid to host the 30th Olympiad," said such cooking luminaries as Alain Ducasse, Michel Rostang and Michel Troisgros.
Organisers of the Paris bid also released two documents detailing plans for the environment and future development.
"The respect of the environment and lasting development, this desire to leave a social heritage to France and future generations, are not a simple declaration of intent," said spokesman Jerome Lenfant.
Plans include a huge recycling project, utilising solar power and the creation of some 200 kilometres of cycle routes linking all Olympic sites.
Making its third bid for the Olympic Games in 20 years, Paris has so far put on a confident display -- with politicians from right and left rallying behind Paris mayor Betrand Delanoe and only a handful of Greens arguing against the nomination. Polls show nearly 90 percent of the public is in favour.
For weeks police vehicles and taxis have borne stickers supporting the bid, a vast multi-coloured representation of the Olympic symbol is emblazoned across the parliament building, street posters bear the slogan "Love of the Games," and buses fly Olympic flags.
The IOC inspection team has already visited London, Madrid and New York and will next travel on to Moscow.
The decision on the host city of 2012 Olympics will be taken after the final vote on July 6 in Singapore.
03/11/2005 20:36 GMT