Key events
Laura Kenny is a columnist for the Guardian covering Paris 2024. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian
Five-time Olympic gold medalist Laura Kenny – a columnist for the Guardian covering Paris 2024 – shares insights on resuming cycling, her favorite sports, and the moment she realized she was the world’s fastest.
(I suspect that surreal image below, featuring the art reproduction on the river, isn’t part of the opening ceremony, as organizers would likely not permit its photography. Nonetheless, it’s captured here.)
At least 288 hair and makeup professionals will be present for the opening ceremony tonight.
David Hills lists five highlights to watch for:
A technician drives through a cart alongside reproductions of famous artworks lining the River Seine. Photograph: Vadim Ghirdă/AP
Vandals strike French high-speed rail network
A series of coordinated attacks on France’s TGV high-speed rail infrastructure has caused significant disruption on the country’s busiest railways just ahead of the Olympic Games opening ceremony.
The national railway operator indicated that arsonists targeted installations on the key lines leading to Paris from the west, north, and east, resulting in extensive weekend travel interruptions.
“The SNCF experienced several acts of vandalism on the Atlantic, Northern, and Eastern high-speed lines last night. Fires were intentionally set to damage our facilities,” stated the SNCF.
Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra denounced the vandalism, expressing her outrage: “This is utterly unacceptable,” she mentioned to BFMTV. “Attacking the games equates to attacking France.”. Reuters
“France’s live performance reflecting its historical narrative is advancing into the semi-finals on Saturday, where they will face South Africa.”
Andy Bull was present at Stade de France last night to see Antoine Dupont lead the home team into the rugby sevens semi-finals:
Antoine Dupont scored a crucial late try that confirmed France’s place in the rugby sevens semi-finals. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Preamble
Greetings and welcome to the live blog for Friday’s 2024 Olympics.
The excitement in Paris is palpable, as reported by Angelique Chrisafis…
“This is being touted as the most significant open-air event on the planet – a project so extensive that it will suspend city operations, control air travel, engage 45,000 police officers, and involve multiple military units, all rehearsed in secret over two years.
As the Paris Olympics opening ceremony kicks off on Friday night, it will set a precedent as the first theatrical display to launch such a monumental sporting event outside of a stadium.”
