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Louise Thomas
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The Olympics have been officially opened, with Celine Dion ending a spectacular, rain-soaked opening ceremony on the River Seine in Paris.
Thousands lined the banks in the French capital to watch an unprecedented, unique event to begin Paris 2024 ahead of the first medal events tomorrow. Organisers abandoned the traditional stadium format to instead showcase the sights and sounds of the city, with athletes paraded along the waterway in an impressive display - even if the Olympic flag appeared to be hoisted upside down.
Heavy rain fell on a wet evening after a day of travel chaos in Paris that saw thousands of visitors delayed. The country’s rail operator said that arson attacks on key rail lines into the French capital had “sabotaged” the network, leading to disruption across the country.
But the deluge and disruption did not dampen sprits in the city, as President Macron declared the Olympics officially underway underneath the Eiffel Tower following appearances from Lady Gaga, Zinedine Zidane and the returning Dion, who performed before the Olympic cauldron, suspended on a hot-air balloon, was lit.
Follow all the reaction from the Olympic opening ceremony in our live blog below, as well as the latest updates and news ahead of Paris 2024
Paris Olympics latest news and updates
- Paris embraces its ‘crazy’ idea to deliver Olympics opening ceremony like no other
- Emmanuel Macron declares Games open as Celine Dion closes spectacular ceremony
- Tom Daley and Helen Glover fly Team GB flag as heavy rain hits Paris
- Lady Gaga performs as Zinedine Zidane begins torch’s journey down the Seine
- France ‘under attack’ after rail disruption as up to 800,000 passengers face delays
- Consequences will be ‘massive and serious’ French PM says after five incidents of damage to train network
- What to watch on Day 1 of the Olympics
Eurostar services disrupted by vandalism
High-speed trains around France were hit by several “malicious acts” Friday that heavily disrupted traffic on the day of the high-risk opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, according to the national rail company SNCF.
Travel to and from London beneath the English Channel, to neighboring Belgium, and across the west, north and east of France were affected by what SNCF called a series of coordinated overnight incidents.
Government officials denounced the incidents hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, which are happening around France, though there was no immediate sign of a link to the Games.
National police said authorities are investigating what happened. French media reported a big fire on a busy western route.
Sam Rkaina26 July 2024 09:06 1721981603Around 250,000 train passengers affected by ‘deliberate attack’
Some 250,000 passengers have been affected by the “massive and coordinated attack”, according to Valérie Pécresse, head of the Paris regional council.
She confirmed that all four main TGV lines leaving Paris were targeted. “I am very grateful to the SNCF staff on the South-East line who managed to put the arsonists on the run”, she said.
Transport minister Patrice Vergriete said: “All the evidence we have suggests this was deliberate.”
“The simultaneous timings, the vans found with people who fled, particularly on the south-east side, the incendiary agents found on site,” he told BFMTV.
The SNCF said for the entire weekend, “we estimate that around 800,000 passengers will be affected”.
Alexander Butler26 July 2024 09:13 1721981816Watch live: Olympic travel chaos as vandals target high-speed rail tracks
Live: Olympic travel chaos as vandals target high-speed rail tracks
Olympic travel chaos as vandals target high-speed rail tracks. Watch more on Independent TV: https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/editors-picksLike us on Facebo...
Alexander Butler26 July 2024 09:16 1721982634All Eurostar trains to Gare du Nord disrupted
All Eurostar trains departing from and arriving at Gare du Nord in Paris have also been affected by this “massive attack”.
They are currently showing an hour’s delay on the company’s website.
SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Faranadou said the company would deploy a wide range of resources to support passengers and resolve any disruption as quickly as possible.
Alexander Butler26 July 2024 09:30 1721983175Five incidents of damage to train network
Five incidents of damage or attempted damage to the SNCF network took place between 1am and 5.30am, targeting electrical or signalling boxes, according to France Info, citing sources “close to the matter”.
Regarding delays and cancellations, transport minister Patrick Vergriete said that “one train in two to the east and north” is currently running and “one TGV in four to Bordeaux”.
“On the TGV Atlantique, the TGV Nord and the TGV Est, the arson attacks have had a direct impact on the high-speed lines. The TGVs have to take conventional lines, which means delays and cancellations,” he said.
Alexander Butler26 July 2024 09:39 1721984111Railway attacks are ‘outrageous criminal act’, transport minister says
A “massive attack” against France’s high-speed TGV rail network was an “outrageous criminal act”, transport minister Patrice Vergriete said on Friday, hours ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
There would be “very serious consequences” for rail traffic throughout the weekend with connections towards northern, eastern and northwestern France halved, Mr Vergriete added.
Alexander Butler26 July 2024 09:55 1721984471‘Shame on the vandals’, former tourism minister says
France’s former tourism minister, Olivia Gregoire, has said those responsible for the attacks should be ashamed of themselves.
In a statement on X, she wrote: “Shame on the vandals who are preventing many families from going on holiday, just a few hours before the opening ceremony of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Alexander Butler26 July 2024 10:01 1721984588Eurostar advises passengers postpone travel to France
Eurostar asked passengers to postpone their travel where possible on Friday after its rail services between London and Paris were disrupted by acts of vandalism in France.
“We encourage our customers to postpone their trip if possible,” the rail operator said in a statement.
Earlier it said “coordinated malicious acts in France” had caused several cancellations and services coming into and out of Paris were having to use slower routes.
Alexander Butler26 July 2024 10:03 1721984948Pictured: Police officers patrol inside the Gare du Nord train station
Intelligence services 'mobilised', French PM says
France’s intelligence services and law enforcement agencies have been mobilised following arson attacks on railway lines, France’s prime minister has said.
Gabriel Attal said officers had been asked to “find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts”.
He described the consequences for the rail network as “massive and serious”.
Alexander Butler26 July 2024 10:18 Older1 / 16NewerDisclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
