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France’s rail operator has said the French are under attack after the country’s train network was “sabotaged” by arsonists hours before the start of the Paris Olympics.
Jean-Pierre Farandou, chief executive of SNCF, said the plans of thousands who had hoped to go to Paris for the games had been ruined.
“We are absolutely sorry that we are not able to run the trains expected by the French people. Today, it is the big departures that are being attacked, it is the French that are being attacked,” Mr Farandou told BFMTV.
The “coordinated” disruption is likely to cause delays over the weekend for 800,000 passengers, with up to 250,000 affected just before the Olympics opening ceremony is due to take place on the River Seine later.
One in four Eurostar trains will be cancelled today and over the weekend due to the arson attack damage, the company said.
Five incidents of damage or attempted damage to the SNCF network took place between 1am and 5.30am, targeting electrical or signalling boxes, according to France Info, citing sources “close to the matter”.
Follow the live blog below for the latest updates and news ahead of Paris 2024
Basel airport closure causes cancellations and long delays
Thousands of passengers at Basel airport face long delays or cancellations after a false bomb threat led to the evacuation of the airport.
The hub, which calls itself EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, is in French territory but has a corridor road connection from Basel, Switzerland.
EasyJet grounded its flight to and from Nice, while Lufthansa cancelled a link between Basel and Munich. Lufthansa’s budget offshoot, Eurowings, axed a round-trip to Palma.
EasyJet told passengers: “The disruption to your flight is outside of our control and is considered to be an extraordinary circumstance.”
Many flights are heavily delayed, with British Airways passengers departing for London two hours behind schedule. The easyJet flight to Edinburgh is also expected to be two hours late.
Jane Dalton26 July 2024 13:18
Canada head coach Bev Priestman suspended for Olympics over spy drone incident
Canada head coach Bev Priestman has now been suspended for the rest of the Olympics as the drone spying saga that has engulfed the women’s football competition rumbles on.
Claims emerged earlier this week that a drone was used to spy on the training sessions of New Zealand – Canada’s opening opponent in Group A of the women’s football tournament – and assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi were subsequently sent home by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC).
Now the COC have issued a statement saying that Priestman had been removed from her role after “additional information” came to their attention regarding previous drone use that took place prior to Paris 2024.
Oscar Pick26 July 2024 13:08
Traffic resuming, transport minister says
“Traffic is starting to resume, we should see one train in three this afternoon,” said Patrice Vergriete, the resigning minister for transport, reported by Le Monde.
He added: “We can imagine that it’s a criminal act, there is a concomitance of facts. We didn’t have a specific alert before these acts of malice.”

Sonia Twigg26 July 2024 12:47
Paris Olympics latest news and updates
Simone Biles is known for her high-flying, boundary-pushing gymnastics skills, but she can be just as impressive off the competition mat in her support for fellow athletes. Biles helped German gymnasts snag seats on a packed bus toward the Bercy Arena on Thursday when non-athletes intended to remain in their seats for the 45-minute ride. The arena is where the Paris 2024 gymnastics events are being held.
“Not only standing up for herself and her mental health but also fighting for us to get a seat (on) the overly packed bus toward the arena,” German Sarah Voss, 24, posted on her Instagram stories following Thursday’s podium practice.
Two-time Olympian Voss’s story also displayed a photo of a custom, heart-shaped pin adorned with Biles’ signature. Trading pins at the Olympic Games has become customary among athletes, volunteers and other participants as a gesture of friendship and camaraderie.
Voss’s teammate, three-time Olympian Pauline Schaefer-Betz, also excitedly posted a story earlier this week after receiving Biles’ pin. “This one is special,” wrote 27-year-old Schaefer-Betz, who with Voss has been making waves in gymnastics fashion by opting to wear full-length unitards for comfort and modesty.
Biles may be the most decorated gymnast on the World stage, but she has battled mental health issues in the past and now uses her experiences to inspire and support other athletes. The 27-year-old’s empathy was on display last month when reigning Olympic all-around champion Sunisa Lee was having a shaky performance at U.S. national championships.
Biles pulled Lee aside and gave her a pep talk.
“She understands more than anyone the pressure and has had to deal with the worst, so it really helped to have her in my corner,” Lee, 21, said of Biles after the competition.
Karen Braun, Reuters26 July 2024 12:42
Compensation for delayed Eurostar passengers: typically £25
Trains from Paris now arriving here at London St Pancras International between 75 and 80 minutes late, increasing journey times by more than half.
Delayed Eurostar passengers will be due compensation for arriving over an hour late. A delay of between one and hours qualifies for compensation of 25 per cent as cash – or as a 30 per cent voucher for future travel.
One-way fares on so busy a day are likely to be about £100, indicating a refund of £25 in cash or a £30 voucher. Eurostar says: “Please wait at least 24 hours before making a claim – this will give our systems time to process details of your delay.”

Simon Calder26 July 2024 12:37
France disruption concerning, UK prime minister says
Sir Keir Starmer has said disruption across France is “concerning” and urged people to follow travel advice if going to the games.
“The situation is concerning and like the statements you’ve seen from the French it is incredibly frustrating for people travelling to attend the games and Olympic Ceremony,” a spokesperson for the prime minister said.
“The PM would urge people to continue to follow travel advice and statements from travel operators. The latest statement from the Eurostar is that the lines are running but there are delays and disruption so everyone should follow the advice.
“Irrespective of this disruption, it is very clear that both in France, here and around the world everyone is hugely excited and looking forward to what will be an incredibly successful Olympic games and we won’t let disruption overshadow that.”
Alexander Butler26 July 2024 12:23
Simone Biles, Noah Lyles and the many faces of the Paris Olympic Games
The Paris Olympics is poised to deliver sporting excellence in abundance; blink and you will miss something extraordinary on the biggest stage in sport.
While records will tumble and pages in sport’s history books will be frantically rewritten across two action-packed weeks, those individuals who rise to seize the spotlight, forging memories for generations, will mostly do so by pairing their athletic prowess with a human story. This is why there is such a feverish anticipation for Simone Biles and her Olympic return.
Widely recognised as the greatest gymnast of all time, having amassed 37 medals across Olympic Games and world championships, Biles is ready to dominate again.
Yet this journey to Paris, including a 732-day layoff, has made the 27-year-old an inspiration beyond the arena.
Sport Editor Jack Rathborn’s 2024 Olympics preview:
Karl Matchett26 July 2024 12:20
One in four Eurostar trains cancelled
One in four Eurostar trains will be cancelled on Friday and over the weekend following arson attacks on the French railway network, the company said.
A Eurostar spokesperson told The Independent: “Due to coordinated malicious acts in France, affecting the high-speed line between Paris and Lille, all high-speed trains going to and coming from Paris are being diverted via the classic line today Friday 26 July. This extends the journey time up to an hour and a half.
“Eurostar expects this situation will last until Monday morning.Today, Eurostar will cancel 25 per cent of its trains. It will also be the case on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28.
“Eurostar’s teams are fully mobilised in stations, in the call centres, and onboard to ensure that all passengers are informed and can reach their destination.”

Simon Calder26 July 2024 12:12
Pictured: Snoop Dogg carries Olympic torch
Snoop Dogg has been pictured carrying the Olympic torch in the last part of the relay before opening ceremony begins at 7.30pm Paris time.
His gold shoes have also attracted attention. “I had them custom made for the Olympics, they’re Snoop’s shoes,” he told France TV.


Alexander Butler26 July 2024 12:02
Paris Olympics latest news and updates
Three-time Olympic medallist Jack Laugher is posting photographs of himself on the adult content site OnlyFans “for some more money”.
While Laugher, who became Britain’s first Olympic diving champion at Rio 2016, receives funding largely from the profits of the National Lottery, he is topping up his earnings on OnlyFans – although his personal page stresses there will be no full-frontal nudity images of him.
“Just like most Olympic sports, there isn’t a lot of money in diving,” Laugher told several national newspapers.
“I’ll do anything to hustle for some more money. It’s a really, really good way for me to make some extra cash and just try and set myself up for the future a little bit.
“I understand the way it’s perceived. I get it. But I know what I’m doing. I’m comfortable with what I’m doing. It clearly states on my profile there is no nudity.”
The British Olympic Association declined to comment when contacted by the PA news agency.

PA Sports Staff26 July 2024 11:58
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