The Paris Olympics officially kick off on Friday with an extravagant opening ceremony through the heart of Paris but an attack by vandals targeting France's high-speed TGV rail network exposed security risks at a time of geopolitical friction.
The coordinated actions by arsonists brought major disruption to some of France's busiest rail lines ahead of Friday evening's ceremony, including lines connecting Paris with cities such as Lille in the north, Bordeaux in the west and Strasbourg in the east. No one has claimed responsibility.
The attack took place despite a massive security operation for the Games involving some 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers and 2,000 private security staff.
The opening parade will feature a procession of barges which will take nearly 7,000 athletes along the River Seine past Paris's most famous landmarks, while more than 300,000 spectators will watch from the banks.
Since the last Games - the Winter Olympics held in Beijing in 2022 - wars have erupted in Ukraine and Gaza, providing a highly tense international backdrop. France is at its highest level of security, though officials have repeatedly said there is no specific threat to the opening ceremony or the Games.
More than 10,500 athletes will compete at the Olympics, 100 years since Paris last staged the Games. Competition started on Wednesday and the first of the 329 gold medals will be awarded on Saturday. The closing ceremony will take place on Aug. 11.
