The Guardian

Paris 2024 Olympics: opening ceremony hit by travel chaos as quarter of Eurostar trains cancelled – live

By Stuart Goodwin (now) Will Unwin (later) and Luke McLaughlin (earlier),

5 hours ago

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3dj31J_0udw0Z1i00 — Snoop Dogg carries the Olympic torch through the streets of Saint-Denis. Photograph: Aurélien Morissard/AP

1.48pm BST

Two Team GB athletes had been due to arrive in Paris today , the British Olympic Association has confirmed. Although the majority of British athletes have been using Eurostar to travel to the Games, many athletes are now already in France.

The competitors travelling today were only subject to minor delays, the BOA added.

1.43pm BST

Simone Biles is keeping on pushing the gymnastics envelope …

The American has submitted an original skill on uneven bars ahead of the Paris Olympics that will be the American’s sixth move named after her – and her first on bars – if she can successfully complete it.

The new skill is a clear hip circle forward with 1.5 turns to handstand, a variation of an element named for the Canadian Wilhelm Weiler, which Biles has performed for much of her career, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said. FIG’s technical committee awarded it a difficulty value of E on a scale from A to J, meaning it is worth 0.5 in difficulty.

The four-time Olympic champion already has five elements named after her. Only Nellie Kim, the retired Soviet and Belarusian five-time Olympic gold medallist, has more skills named after her, with seven.

Biles is the fourth woman aiming to have a new element named after her at the Games, which for the women begin on Sunday with qualifications. Rebeca Andrade of Brazil will be attempting to perform a risky new vault in a bid to defend her gold medal from the Tokyo Games. Both Naomi Visser and Lieke Wevers of the Netherlands have submitted a triple-turn on floor exercise with the leg in the horizontal position to hopefully be completed in Paris. Reuters

1.37pm BST

Team GB has an official fan zone at Battersea Power Station. Today the ribbon was cut there by Christine Ohuruogu, whose ridiculous final-straight push propelled her from fourth to 400m gold at Beijing 2008 . She followed it up with silver in London four years later.

Twelve years on, Christine’s younger sister, Victoria, will take part in the same event and the 4x400m relay in Paris.

Updated at 1.39pm BST

1.25pm BST

Digested week has landed, from Jon Henley in Paris …

There are two Parises this week. In one, life feels very normal (or at least, normal for Paris in late July): it’s quiet, but the shops and cafes are mostly open and in the evenings, the terraces fill with thirtysomethings drinking half-price cocktails.

That’s the case where I am, in the ninth arrondissement . The aoûtiens – people who don’t leave the city till August, duh – are all at work, the streets resound with the rumble of tourist suitcases, the talk is of politics, obviously, and holiday plans.

The other, much smaller Paris is a ghost town . Armed police everywhere, 45,000 steel barriers lining the pavements, streets eerily empty of traffic and in the ultra-restricted anti-terror zone along the Seine you need a QR code – even if you live there.

This has not gone down well. The extreme security for the waterborne Olympic opening ceremony may only be in place for a week, but for Parisians peeved at the best of times, that’s several days too long.

1.22pm BST

Prosecutors open formal investigation into railway attacks

Story update … today’s news on the railway disruption has now been updated by Jon Henley and Angelique Chrisafis.

Prosecutors have opened a formal investigation after saboteurs attacked France’s high-speed railway network in a series of “malicious acts” that brought chaos to the country’s busiest rail lines hours before the Olympics opening ceremony.

The state-owned railway operator, SNCF, said arsonists targeted installations along the high-speed TGV lines connecting Paris with the country’s west, north and east, and traffic would be severely disrupted across the country during the weekend.

“This is a massive attack on a large scale to paralyse the TGV network,” the SNCF said, adding that many services would have to be cancelled and the situation would last “at least all weekend while repairs are conducted”.

The Paris public prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, said an investigation had been launched into “deliberate damage of property likely to harm the fundamental interests of the nation” and criminal association.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but French media cited anonymous intelligence sources as saying extreme-left or anarchist groups, who have attacked the rail network in the past, or radical environments activists could be potential suspects.

1.15pm BST

Without sounding “I’m alright Jack” … the trains south of Paris seem absolutely fine. I’m en route to Chateauroux for the rifle shooting and the journey has been perfectly smooth.

The Orleans to Chateauroux leg actually features the most opulent standard class carriage I have ever been in.

Yes, I’m alright Jack.

Experiencing anything different to our correspondent? Let us know …

Updated at 1.16pm BST

1.14pm BST

High levels of E coli were present in Seine last Sunday

French authorities have revealed that the Seine was not suitable for swimming last Sunday. Data published today by Parisian and regional bodies showed that E coli and enterococci bacteria were above the acceptable threshold on Sunday, though they were below that level on the six other days in the reporting period of 17-23 July.

A huge clean-up operation has been taking place amid fears for participants in marathon swimming and triathlon legs, that will take place on the river. Last week Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, fulfilled a pledge to swim in the Seine to prove it could be made safe in time. However, it has been revealed today that five days later, such a swim might have been posed a health risk.

The water will be retested before the events due to be held on the river – contingency plans exist to relocate the marathon swimming to Vaires-sur-Marne, the venue for rowing and canoeing events, while the triathlon would be downgraded to a duathlon just consisting of cycling and running legs.

12.55pm BST

Ireland have announced their flag-bearers … golfer Shane Lowry, who won the 2019 Open, and 100m hurdler Sarah Lavin will have the honour at tonight’s ceremony.

“It’s a huge honour for me and my family,” Lowry said. “Anybody who knows me knows how patriotic I am, how much I love Ireland, and how much I love playing for my country. I always wear the Irish flag with pride and to get to do something like this is something I’ll remember forever.”

Lavin, who won bronze at the European Games last year, added: “It’s surreal to be honest, the greatest honour I’ve ever been given,” she said. “To carry the country’s flag, it’s just something you can’t prepare for. I’m so grateful for those who’ve trusted me and put me in this position.

“It’s emotional as well. There’s no point lying about that because, you know, there’s a lot of people you’re representing and be on the biggest sporting stage. I’m deeply touched and just so excited to get out there.”

Updated at 12.55pm BST

12.48pm BST

Bit of a break from the train mayhem. I can feel the collective heart rates of all rail commuters rising with every word we publish on it.

Here’s IOC president Thomas Bach getting in on the torch relay action …

And here’s an important image from yesterday … as members of various international police forces posed with their goodest, hardest-working boys and girls. French interior minister Gerald Darmanin had assembled the officers to acknowledge the part they’ll all play during the Games.

Updated at 12.48pm BST

12.38pm BST

Keir Starmer’s office has weighed in on the travel chaos . The UK’s prime minister has asked sport fans to heed the travel advice being issued by authorities.

A spokesperson said: “Obviously the situation is concerning, and like the statements you’ve seen from the French, it is also incredibly frustrating for people travelling to attend the Games and the Olympic ceremony.

“The prime minister would urge people to continue to follow the travel advice and the statements from the travel operators.

“Irrespective of this disruption, it is very clear that both in France, here and around the world, everyone is hugely excited and looking forward to what will be an incredibly successful Olympic Games, and we won’t let disruption overshadow that.”

12.32pm BST

Quarter of Eurostar trains cancelled for opening days of Games

One in four Eurostar trains will be cancelled on Friday and over the weekend following “co-ordinated” vandalism which caused disruption ahead of the Olympics in France.

The rail operator, which runs international services from London St Pancras, confirmed 25% of its trains would no longer run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Several of its trains to Paris had been cancelled while others were diverted or subject to delays because of the ongoing issues over the Channel, with customers told to cancel their trips where possible.

“Eurostar expects this situation will last until Monday morning,” the operator said in a statement. PA Media

Updated at 12.34pm BST

12.30pm BST

Have your Olympic travel plans been hit by today’s transport disruption in France?

Our community team would love to hear from you. Fill out the form here …

12.28pm BST

From the Guardian archive: how the ‘imposing’ opening ceremony to the 1924 Paris Olympics was covered …

Paris, Sunday
The repeated thud of the saluting guns had ceased and the strains of the Marseillaise had died away when a bugle call gave the signal for the march past of the world’s athletes. The elegant stadium at Colombes, not, of course, to be compared with our grandiose affair at Wembley, yet capable of holding sixty thousand spectators, was full to the brim for yesterday’s opening ceremony.

In the tribune of honour M Doumergue, president of the republic, had taken his seat, together with the Prince of Wales as representative of the British empire, Prince Henry, and other notables. Without delay the great defile began.

For variety, and yet perfection of form, for picturesqueness of dress and colour and bearing, it would be hard to find a parallel to this procession of athletes of forty-five nations. Each nation had been left to choose its own uniform, and the result was an extraordinary range of coloured blazers, badges, and headgears from straw hat to fez.

Read more here …

12.20pm BST

Quiz time! As you might expect, plenty of Olympics interest in our sports quiz of the week. Plus: important Hurstpierpoint FC content! Huzaifah Khan is this week’s quizmaster …

12.16pm BST

London Eurostar passengers asked to postpone journeys

Eurostar passengers travelling from London to Paris on Friday were asked to postpone trips if possible, with trains delayed and cancelled after arson attacks took place on high-speed rail lines hours before the start of the Olympics .

Most services were leaving St Pancras International station on time but journeys were expected to be prolonged by at least an hour in France . Two afternoon departures have been cancelled.

The disruption, caused by what French authorities described as coordinated and malicious attacks on rail infrastructure between Paris and Lille, came hours before the Games’ opening ceremony, potentially stranding some passengers hoping to attend.

Eurostar said in a statement: “Due to coordinated acts of malice in France, affecting the high-speed line between Paris and Lille, all high-speed trains going to and coming from Paris are being diverted via the classic line today Friday 26 July.

“This extends the journey time by around an hour-and-a-half. Several trains have been cancelled. Eurostar’s teams are fully mobilised in stations, in the call centres, and onboard to ensure that all passengers are informed and can reach their destination. We encourage our customers to postpone their trip if possible.”

Passengers would be able to cancel or get a refund or change their journey free of charge, Eurostar said.

Updated at 12.18pm BST

12.15pm BST

Thanks Luke, greetings all. Organisers are probably jumpy for any high-profile bonanza, but there are clearly jitters all-round for tonight’s opening ceremony given today’s disruption in France. Protests on a number of fronts – local, national and international – may well be gravitating to Paris over the coming weeks.

There are contingency plans in place if protests make the planned 6km parade along the Seine untenable – “we have fallback scenarios, plan Bs and plan Cs”, Emmanuel Macron said last month – but I think it’s fair to say that there’s a substantial security presence in France’s capital today. Alternative options for tonight’s ceremony include a smaller event in the Trocadéro area or shifting the whole thing into the Stade de France.

Updated at 12.17pm BST

12.02pm BST

If you missed anything, here’s the Olympics-related content we’ve published today, on a European morning when arson attacks on France’s high-speed rail network have soured the mood.

Let’s hope for a peaceful afternoon leading into this evening’s opening ceremony … handing over to my colleague, Stuart Goodwin, for the next bit.

Updated at 12.04pm BST

11.51am BST

Australia’s top athletes are out to make their mark on Paris over the coming weeks, their best endeavours leaving a powerful, if fleeting, impact on the French capital. But many of the several thousand Australians who live locally have already made an enduring impression on French life.

Fox McInerney, owner of coffee shop Good News and roastery Cayo, says Australian cafe culture has taken hold in the past decade, and there are now more than 10 Australian-owned or run businesses in central Paris providing an alternative to the dominant local brand Cafés Richard.

Updated at 12.06pm BST

11.42am BST

What is Flavor Flav doing at the Olympics wearing a Team USA water polo helmet? Jay Cohen, of the Associated Press, explains all:

Flavor Flav stopped for hugs, handshakes and high-fives as he made his way around the Team USA House at the Paris Games on Thursday. He never stopped smiling.

“This is quite an experience for me right now, you know, because the only time I’ve ever seen the Olympics was on TV,” Flav said. “You know what I’m saying? But I always wanted to see what it felt like being there. So now I got the opportunity to be here. It’s the best.”

Flav, a founding member of the hip-hop group Public Enemy, is in Paris as part of his duties as the official hype man for USA Water Polo — a partnership that came together after he connected with US captain Maggie Steffens on Instagram in May.

The 65-year-old Flav is embracing his new responsibilities with his usual brand of seemingly boundless enthusiasm. “I’m so ready, man. ... I’m so hype right now about this sport,” said Flav, wearing a custom USA Water Polo clock. “I wish I was playing it. I’m hyping myself up right now to ask them to let me on the team.”

The road to Flav‘s Olympic debut began when Steffens posted on Instagram about her experiences with the US women’s program, which has won an unprecedented three straight gold medals going into Paris.

While paying tribute to her teammates and expressing love for her gruelling sport, Steffens also highlighted the financial struggle for most Olympic athletes. Flav’s manager brought the issue to his attention, and he promised his assistance.

“As a girl dad and supporter of all women’s sports - imma personally sponsor you my girl … whatever you need. And imma sponsor the whole team,” Flav commented on Instagram.

That exchange turned into a unique sponsorship deal between Flav — legal name William Jonathan Drayton Jr. — and USA Water Polo. Flav made an undisclosed financial contribution to the women’s programme as part of the five-year agreement, and agreed to collaborate on social media.

He is planning to attend the Olympic openers for the US women and men. The women face Greece on Saturday, and the men play Italy on Sunday.

Flav, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Public Enemy in 2013, prepped for his Paris experience by attending two women’s games. He also jumped into the pool with the women’s team.

“I tried it. I got to try it to see what it feels like,” Flav said. “And boy, I was in the water with the girls for like seven minutes. And I was treading water for seven minutes. And I’m not going to lie. But that was like the hardest seven minutes in my life.”

Flav said he “got lucky” and connected on two goals against Ashleigh Johnson — considered the best goaltender in the world. The significance of the moment was not lost on Johnson, the first black woman to play water polo for the U.S. Olympic team.

“We saw the video come out ... It was so cool to see it,” Johnson said. “I read through the comments and I see people asking questions about water polo and people of colour wanting to start playing. And that’s a different community than I’ve seen talk about our sport.”

That is something Flav hopes to see more of as he continues to cheer on the US teams. “When it comes down to water polo ... it’s not really about people of colour. It’s about people that love to play it,” he said. “Water polo is for all races, all colours of people.”

Updated at 11.48am BST

11.32am BST

“We need to re-enthuse.” This was probably the closest Emmanuel Macron came to a tearful cri de cœur during his latest address on the eve of France’s Olympic Games . It is a reasonable enough statement in itself, although one that may be more accurate with the removal of the “re” part. Welcome to Paris 2024, the 33rd modern Olympic Games, and the first to have basically crept up over your shoulder with a shrug and a pffft and an arch of the brow.

Worrying about the Olympics is of course an Olympic tradition in its own right. The temptation is always there to fret over the scale, the purity, the basic vitality of this four-yearly global anachronism.

11.27am BST

Sticking with the US rap/hip-hop theme for a moment, here’s Flavor Flav, at a Team USA Water Polo press conference today:

Updated at 11.29am BST

11.21am BST

Snoop Dogg carries Olympic flame in Paris

Snoop Dogg , as promised by organisers, has been carrying the Olympic flame in Paris today.

“Snoop, who was born in Los Angeles – host of the 1932, 1984 and 2028 Games – limbered up for his Olympic stint by posting a time of 34.44 seconds over 200 metres during a special exhibition race at the US trials in Oregon last month.”

Updated at 11.34am BST

11.19am BST

Is US men’s basketball’s era of Olympic domination coming to an end?

Oren Weisfeld takes a look:

“The 2024 Olympic Games are shaping up to be the most competitive international men’s basketball tournament of all time, with powerhouse nations such as Canada, Australia, Spain, France, Germany and Serbia loading up on talent as they aim to take down the juggernaut Team USA.

The American men have won gold at each of the last four Olympics and have assembled “The Avengers” in hopes of doing so again. Led by LeBron James and Stephen Curry, Team USA is packed with NBA All-Stars being coached by NBA champions. But unlike many other teams they will face at the Olympics, this American roster had not played together until a series of warmup games in the last few weeks. And despite their significant talent advantage, they will have less time than any other team to come together, put their NBA habits aside, and play Fiba basketball, which has different rules such as smaller courts and shorter games, as a unit.”

Updated at 11.19am BST

11.10am BST

The Canadian Olympic Committee CEO , David Shoemaker, said new information from Soccer Canada showed suspended women’s head coach Bev Priestman was likely aware of the drone use that has caused a scandal at the Paris Olympics.

The COC removed head coach Priestman on Thursday following her suspension by Canada Soccer following complaints from New Zealand that Canada flew drones over two of their training sessions. Assistant Andy Spence will coach Canada for the remainder of the Games.

Shoemaker also said he is comfortable with Canada’s women’s team remaining in Paris to defend their Olympic gold medal amid rumblings that the team should be disqualified over the drone scandal that has thrust the team into the spotlight.

“One of the key pieces of information was the conclusion from Canada Soccer that (Priestman) needed to be suspended based on their accumulation of facts,” Shoemaker said during on Friday.

“I’ve seen some of the information they have, and we gathered some additional information ourselves that made me conclude that she was highly likely to have been aware of the incidents here.” Reuters

Updated at 11.12am BST

11.00am BST

A century has passed since Paris last hosted the Olympics.

John Windmill has compiled a gallery of fascinating photos:

Updated at 11.04am BST

10.42am BST

The official Olympics X account going alllllll the way back to 1996 and Celine Dion’s performance at the opening ceremony in Atlanta:

10.39am BST

At the time , Lola Anderson had written it off as a cringeworthy adolescent whim. She was far from the only youngster to have been swept along by the endless summer of London 2012 and, watching Great Britain surge down Dorney Lake towards one of their four rowing golds, was struck by “this massive wave of inspiration”. Her love for the sport had been growing and, at 14, this was the moment to spell out a plan for the future.

She ran to find her diary and started writing. “My name is Lola Anderson and I think it would be my biggest dream in life to go to the Olympics and represent Team GB in rowing and, if possible, win a gold medal,” read the entry. But immediately self-consciousness set in. Looking back now it is easily diagnosable. “Teenage girls don’t necessarily have the most belief in ourselves and I got very embarrassed,” she says. “I kinda thought ‘That was a really cocky, arrogant thing to have written’. Back then, on a good day I wasn’t capsizing. I ripped the page out and threw it in the bin.”

Updated at 10.39am BST

10.29am BST

Chinese swimmer says doping testers part of ‘European and American’ plot

A world record holding Chinese swimmer has accused doping testers at the Olympic Games of being part of a “European and American” plot to unsettle China’s team.

Qin Haiyang, who holds the record for the men’s 200m breaststroke and is seen as one of Adam Peaty’s main obstacles to claim a three-peat in the 100m, claimed on social media that the vigorous testing of Chinese athletes at the Paris Games was an attempt to disturb their rhythm.

10.25am BST

“ Is anyone running a book on the viewing figures for the Opening Ceremony?” emails Gary Naylor . “Like Eurovision Song Contests, this metric only comes in billions. One feels a bit 20th century, three feels a bit Trumpian, so will M. Macron settle for a comfortable two billion? I suspect so.”

This sort of talk always reminds me of the superb opening to Simon Kuper’s 1994 book, “ Football Against the Enemy ”. (Figures right/wrong at time of writing):

“No one knows how many football fans there are. World Cup USA 1994, Inc has put out a booklet claiming the TV audience for the Italian World Cup was 25.6billion (five times the world’s population) and that 31 billion are expected to watch the American World Cup.”

Updated at 12.49pm BST

10.11am BST

Emma Hayes will lead the US women’s national football team into competitive action for the first time at the Games. The early signs are encouraging, writes Alexander Abnos:

Updated at 10.14am BST

10.06am BST

Note , I mentioned the opening ceremony starts at 7pm BST: but it seems it’s actually 6.30pm. I wouldn’t want you to miss the start.

Updated at 10.14am BST

10.00am BST

French rail network hit by arson attacks before Olympics opening ceremony

From Angelique Chrisafis in Paris: an updated story on the arson attacks on France’s high-speed rail network:

“France’s high-speed rail network has been hit by coordinated “malicious acts” including arson attacks that have brought major disruption to many of the country’s busiest rail lines hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.”

Updated at 10.02am BST

9.58am BST

“ France is Édith Piaf , it’s also opera, it’s rap, it’s a whole range of musical styles,” said Thomas Jolly, creative director of the opening and closing ceremonies. “France is cheese, but it’s also the pretzel, and it’s also couscous.”

A snippet there from Simon Burnton’s day-by-day guide to the best bits in Paris in the coming days and weeks:

9.48am BST

British rowing at the Olympics used to be all about the men’s coxless four who maintained an incredible winning streak across five Olympics over two decades. That chain was broken painfully at Tokyo in 2021 . At the time, some interpreted this as symptomatic of a crisis in the British rowing team that won just two medals: one silver, one bronze. Yet just three years later that break seems to have liberated the team from a legacy that had become more of a burden than advantage and kickstarted some overdue modernisation. This summer, it’s genuinely difficult to say which is our “top boat” because there is a broader spread of talent across boat classes than there has ever been.

9.38am BST

Here’s your regular reminder to bookmark the schedule , results , medal table , and even our 2024 Olympics homepage .

Meanwhile – from last month – here’s Barney Ronay on why contributing something for our efforts is a wonderful idea and will make you an all-round better person.

Updated at 9.39am BST

9.31am BST

What’s occurring today?

Not very much until the opening ceremony, beginning at 6.30pm BST.

On the official Olympics website schedule, there are three events listed for this morning: 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Pre-Event Training (8am), 10m Air Pistol Men’s Pre-Event Training (9am), and 10m Air Pistol Women’s Pre-Event Training (10.45am). All distinctly missable.

Updated at 10.05am BST

9.20am BST

The last time Simone Biles attempted to vault in a competition arena at the Olympic Games, all hell broke loose. As Biles launched herself into her extremely difficult Amanar vault, she completely lost track of herself in the air, only managing one and a half twists instead of the planned two and a half. After withdrawing from the team final , Biles would spend most of her Olympic experience in the stands.

Three years on, Biles returned to the Olympic competition floor on Thursday morning as the women’s gymnastics teams worked their way through podium training, the one chance gymnasts will have to train inside the Bercy Arena before the gymnastics competitions begin with the men’s qualifications on Saturday.

9.07am BST

Canada football coach removed from Games amid claims of ‘previous drone use’

The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women’s national football head coach Bev Priestman for the remainder of the Paris Games following an alleged drone spying scandal .

The COC said in a statement released early Friday that assistant coach Andy Spence would lead the defending gold medallists for the remainder of the tournament.

Updated at 9.08am BST

8.55am BST

Simone Biles is known for her high-flying, boundary-pushing gymnastics skills, but she can be just as impressive off the competition mat in support for fellow athletes.

Biles helped German gymnasts snag seats on a packed bus to the Bercy Arena on Thursday when non-athletes intended to remain in their seats for the 45-minute ride. The arena is where the Paris 2024 gymnastics events are being held.

“Not only standing up for herself and her mental health but also fighting for us to get a seat (on) the overly packed bus toward the arena,” German Sarah Voss, 24, posted on Instagram following Thursday’s podium practice.

The two-times Olympian Voss’s story showed a photo of a custom, heart-shaped pin adorned with Biles’ signature. Trading pins at the Olympic Games has become customary among athletes, volunteers and other participants as a gesture of friendship and camaraderie.

Voss’s teammate, the three-times Olympian Pauline Schaefer-Betz, also posted a story this week after receiving Biles’ pin. “This one is special,” wrote 27-year-old Schaefer-Betz, who with Voss has been setting gymnastics trends by wearing full-length unitards for comfort and modesty.

Biles may be the most decorated gymnast on the world stage, but has battled mental health issues and uses her experiences to inspire and support other athletes. The 27-year-old’s empathy was on display last month when the reigning Olympic all-around champion, Sunisa Lee, was producing a shaky performance at US national championships. Biles pulled Lee aside and gave her a pep talk.

“She understands more than anyone the pressure and has had to deal with the worst, so it really helped to have her in my corner,” Lee, 21, said of Biles after the competition. Reuters

Updated at 9.19am BST

8.44am BST

The five-times Olympic gold medal winner Laura Kenny – a Guardian columnist for Paris 2024 – answers your questions on how to get back into cycling, her favourite other sports, and when she realised she was the fastest in the world

Updated at 8.45am BST

8.38am BST

( I guess that surreal image below , of the artwork reproduction in the river, is not part of the opening ceremony, otherwise organisers wouldn’t allow it to be photographed. But there it is anyway.)

Updated at 8.40am BST

8.35am BST

No fewer than 288 hair and makeup artists will be on duty for tonight’s opening ceremony.

Here is David Hills with five things to look out for:

8.22am BST

Vandals target France's high-speed rail network

Vandals targeted France’s high-speed TGV network with a series of coordinated actions that brought major disruption to some of the country’s busiest rail lines before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

The state-owned railway operator said arsonists had targeted installations along the lines connecting Paris with the country’s west, north and east and that traffic would be severely disrupted during the weekend.

“Last night, the SNCF was victim of several acts of vandalism on the Atlantic, Northern and Eastern high-speed lines. Fires were deliberately set to damage our installations,” the SNCF said in a statement.

Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra condemned the vandalism. “It’s completely appalling,” she told BFMTV. “To target the games is to target France.”. Reuters

Updated at 11.22am BST

8.15am BST

“ France’s live-action experiment in the great man theory of history is going to roll on into the semi-finals on Saturday, where they will play South Africa.”

Andy Bull was at the Stade de France last night to witness Antoine Dupont steering the hosts through to the semi-finals in rugby sevens:

Updated at 8.25am BST

8.05am BST

Preamble

Hello and welcome to Friday’s 2024 Olympics live blog.

It’s time for lift-off in Paris, as Angelique Chrisafis reports from the French capital:

“It is billed as the biggest open-air show on Earth – a spectacle so ambitious it will shut down a city centre and its airspace, mobilise 45,000 police and several army units and has taken two years to rehearse in secret.

When the Paris Olympics opening ceremony begins on Friday night, it will be the first time the theatrical curtain-raiser for the world’s biggest sporting event has taken place outside a stadium.”