Notre Dame may reopen as Christmas 2024 gift

Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral, severely damaged by fire in 2019, will have its spire back in place by the end of this year, and there is optimism that the iconic building will fully reopen before Christmas 2024, according to France's culture ministry.

It means the cathedral is unlikely to be open in time for the 2024 Olympic Games, being held in Paris from July 26 to Aug 11, 2024, as earlier pledged by President Emmanuel Macron.

The culture ministry said reconstruction is on course for completion by the end of next year, Agence France-Presse reported. "The site is progressing at a good pace," a spokesperson said.

Authorities have previously targeted Dec 8, 2024, the Catholic holy day of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, as a possible completion date.