NFL-Paris game set to kick off in calm atmosphere after fresh demonstrations
By Vincent Daheron PARIS, Oct 25 (Reuters) The Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints were set to kick off the first NFL regular-season game in Paris at 2.30 p.m. (1330 GMT) on Sunday, in a calm and festive atmosphere, a day after fresh demonstrations drew more than 100,000 people into the French capital. The nationwide protests largely overshadowed the build-up to the game, with some fan and NFL events cancelled over the weekend, mainly due to their location in central Paris. On Sunday, as Saturday’s rain gave way to sunshine, the mood was peaceful around the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, some 10km (6 miles) north of Paris centre and more than 13km (8 miles) from Porte d Italie, where Saturday s protests began in southern Paris. James Brown, a 51-year-old Saints fan who travelled to Paris especially for the game, told Reuters the atmosphere around the stadium was wonderful, really good . The police presence appeared neither heavy nor unusual at the Stade de Fran