Later this week I fly out to France with my sons to watch England play in the European Championships.
The Foreign Office has warned all people travelling from the UK to France to be vigilant and said there was a ‘high threat of terrorism’.
This week a far right extremist was arrested with a plan (and an armoury of weapons) to apparently cause mayhem and murder during the football showpiece.
Added to the State of emergency that France is still under following the attacks by IS murderers last year and on paper it looks a risky place to go.
Was there ever any chance of me not going? Non, nein, no, niet, nah!
For me that would be giving into exactly what the terrorists want. For us to live our lives under restrictions and fear.
Of course I’ll be vigilant. Of course I’ll listen to security advice but there’s no way it was, or is, going to stop me watching what promises to be a fantastic tournament.
I think British people (and there will be a lot in France due to all the home countries but Scotland qualifying) handle the shadow of terrorism better than a lot of other nations, particularly America.
Maybe it’s the years of living under the IRA threats that have hardened us up or something inherited from the spirit of the blitz during World War 2. Maybe it’s simply a stubborn resistance to being cowed by cowards.
I’m really looking forward to it and hope that it’s a memorable festival of football and remembered for all of the right reasons.
Thanks for reading,
Nik
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