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Original poster

How awful for Paris just before the opening ceremony

34 replies

Creepingivy · 26/07/2024 11:32

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cxe24vg59lzt

Hopefully this is the last of any sabotage activity.

France trains live updates: French train network hit by 'malicious' arson attacks hours before Olympics opening ceremony, rail firm says

A series of fires causes widespread cancellations, with Eurostar services disrupted and passengers told not to travel to French stations.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cxe24vg59lzt

OP posts:

murasaki · 26/07/2024 12:41

I think it was doping, and now it's doping and politics.

LuckbeaLady2 · 26/07/2024 12:42

Can anyone tell me the actual time it all starts please, the actual ceremony

RosieCockle · 26/07/2024 12:53

It's at 6.30pm UK time. The weather isn't great and it looks to get worse, sadly.

Igotjelly · 26/07/2024 13:03

Butterflyfern · 26/07/2024 12:39

The Russian ban isn't about the war though, I don't think.

Russia is banned from competition (and has been for a number of years) because of it's state sponsored doping programme for athletes. And then their subsequent unwillingness to be transparent and work with the authorities to clean up

Show quote history

It is directly linked the the war (it was previously re doping). The IOC said last year that Russian and Belarussian athletes could only compete under the neutral flag and if they hadn't shown support for the invasion of Ukraine.

Forbes have a good explainer - Russian Athletes Will Compete In Paris Olympics Under Neutral Flag—Here’s Why (forbes.com)

In terms of the sabotage, there are some suggestions that it was carried out by the far left. Although I'm always cynical and see the Putin regime's grubby hands on everything bad these days.

Here’s Why Russia Is Still Banned From The Olympics

Just a handful of Russian and Belarusian athletes accepted invitations to compete.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/07/25/heres-why-russia-is-still-banned-from-the-olympics/

Letsgodancing · 26/07/2024 13:18

It takes an army of people behind the scenes to get the Olympics under way. Athletes who have put their everything I to competing and the security, construction workers and everyone else who have put in years of work. Absolutely awful thing to happen on the day of the ceremony.
I hope things go well tonight for Paris, they want so badly to put on a spectacular show and have had so many obstacles.

Maddy70 · 26/07/2024 13:37

Honestly Brits are so over cautious. I find it really interesting that it seems so many wouldn't now go to France i dont live in the uk bit i haven't seen that response in my country

It's inconvenient sabotage. Itll be fixed

Normalwahatisnormal · 26/07/2024 13:55

I do hope the weather isn't as bad as predicted, I so feel for everyone that's put 7 years of planning into this 😔

YummyPotatoBun · 26/07/2024 13:57

Now they are saying eco protestors and far-left are the 'main suspects' behind train chaos.

whyamiawakestillitssolate · 26/07/2024 21:55

We’ve come home through Paris and the Eurostar today (planned end of holiday). I was a bit nervous and we took a taxi to the train station rather than getting the local trains / metro but it was much less stressful than I feared - lots and lots of armed police around in Gare de Nord and they were being very cautious - checking behind things etc on every pass through.

Our Eurostar left on time but took much longer than normal due to using the slower speed lines. All felt fine on the train.

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