Paris is under lockdown in anticipation of the grand opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on July 26.
Officials do not foresee any particular threat to the opening ceremony, but emotions are still high because of continuous international crises that have occurred since the previous Olympics in Beijing in 2022, including those in Gaza and Ukraine.
Just hours before the inaugural ceremony was scheduled to start, vandalism and arson assaults crippled France's high-speed TGV rail network, escalating tensions even further, according to train operator SNCF.
The Atlantique, Northern, and Eastern high-speed lines were the targets of many concurrent "malicious acts," according to an SNCF spokesperson who sent an email to The Epoch Times. Investigations by French police are still underway, and there will likely be a disturbance for at least this weekend.
More than 50,000 personnel, including over 45,000 police, 10,000 troops, and roughly 2,000 private security personnel, will be stationed along the Seine River and the adjacent landmarks to provide protection for the opening parade.
It is anticipated that approximately 7,000 athletes would come in a riverfront parade, attracting over 300,000 onlookers.
Meanwhile, as part of a recent security operation launched by authorities under anti-terror legislation, over 150 persons have had their movements restricted by monitoring techniques.
Officials have announced that participants from Israel are now under 24-hour protection by special tactical teams, who will escort them to and from events, due to continued unrest over the Gaza conflict.
A bomb sweep has also been conducted along the Seine's riverbed, and all air movement near Paris has been suspended. Fighter jets from the Mirage 2000 will be ready to intercept planes that venture into forbidden airspace.
World leaders from several nations will also be present at the opening ceremony; they will be surrounded by snipers for protection.
Radar-surveillance planes and Reaper drones, which are prepared to monitor key spots from the air, will also provide protection for the event.
On the social media site X, French President Emmanuel Macron uploaded a video announcing that the city is ready for the occasion.
“Everything is ready, even the (Olympics) rings are there,” Mr. Macron said. “Enjoy the Games!”
A hasty election recently undermined Mr. Macron's authority and left the French government in political turmoil.
An enforced security zone, complete with metal barriers separating neighboring communities, contributed to the increased security around the Olympic Games, which had an impact on local residents.
Prior to the opening ceremony, QR codes were put to authorize admission into the security zones. Local companies, such as cafés and restaurants, are suffering as a result of the security, which has alarmed the populace.
There are only fifteen athletes left in Russia's usually sizable group. The conditions, which were released by the IOC on July 20, required the athletes to fulfill specific neutrality standards in order to be admitted to the tournament.
Belarus, which is sending 17 athletes to participate as neutrals, is in the similar boat. The Ukraine delegation, which consists of just 140 athletes, is the lowest to have existed since the fall of the Soviet Union.
10:30 a.m. is when the opening ceremony is scheduled to start. 16:30 local time, or EST. It will be the first opening ceremony held outside of a stadium, passing past several notable locations such as the Pont des Arts bridge and the Louvre Museum.
Forecasts are for a generally gloomy sky, but the organizers are hoping for a few sunny moments.
The last time the Olympic Games were held in Paris was a century ago. More than 10,500 athletes will compete in this year's event, which begins on July 31.
On August 3, the first of the 329 gold medals will be given out. The closing event is scheduled on August 11.
