Security concerns have been raised after a well-known prankster, Daniel Jarvis, managed to take a selfie with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Olympic closing ceremony in Paris. Jarvis, also known as ‘Jarvo69’, posted the photo on social media along with a video of him walking among athletes on stage, dressed in a Team GB outfit. It is still unclear how he obtained the attire of Team GB.
Jarvis gained a significant following as a YouTuber before gaining notoriety as a pitch invader during an England cricket Test match against India in 2021. During the match, he pretended to be a fielder, bowled a ball, and even collided with England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. He repeated similar stunts at Lord’s and Headingley Test matches that summer and was removed from the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai during India’s 2023 Cricket World Cup opener against Australia. He was later found guilty of aggravated trespass.
Apart from cricket, Jarvis has also invaded other sports events. Last year, he made his way onto the pitch at the Stade de France after the Rugby World Cup final and was seen celebrating alongside rugby players. Additionally, he took credit for playing ‘sex noises’ over Gary Lineker during BBC coverage of an FA Cup match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
These incidents have raised concerns about security measures at major events and the ease with which individuals like Jarvis can breach them. It is essential for authorities to ensure better protection for high-profile figures like President Macron and to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.