The Olympics officially kick off on Friday with an extravagant opening ceremony in the heart of Paris, but an attack by vandals targeting Frances high-speed TGV rail network exposed security risks at a time when all eyes are on the country.
The coordinated actions by saboteurs brought major disruption to some of Frances busiest rail lines. Paris 2024 said the Olympics opening ceremony would go ahead as planned.
No one has claimed responsibility.
The attacks took place far from Paris at a time when a massive security operation rolled out in the capital for the opening ceremony, involving some 45,000 police and thousands of soldiers, has sucked in security resources from across France.
The opening parade will feature a procession of barges which will take nearly 7,000 athletes along the River Seine past Pariss most famous landmarks, while more than 300 000 spectators will watch from the banks.
