In and on the Water, French Troops Secure the River Seine for the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

 Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris 2024 Olympics Preview - Paris, France - July 17, 2024 General view of stands and a big screen installed on the banks of the river Seine ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris 2024 Olympics Preview - Paris, France - July 17, 2024 General view of stands and a big screen installed on the banks of the river Seine ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)
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In and on the Water, French Troops Secure the River Seine for the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

 Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris 2024 Olympics Preview - Paris, France - July 17, 2024 General view of stands and a big screen installed on the banks of the river Seine ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris 2024 Olympics Preview - Paris, France - July 17, 2024 General view of stands and a big screen installed on the banks of the river Seine ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)

French soldiers and police are being deployed both in and along the River Seine to make it safe during the grandiose opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, when thousands of athletes will sail down the river at sunset toward the Eiffel Tower.

The unprecedented decision to use a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) stretch of the Seine as a spectacular stage for the July 26 ceremony in front of a 320,000-strong crowd has created a huge challenge for security services, who will need to ensure the safety of Olympians and spectators alike.

French authorities said 45,000 police officers and gendarmes are being deployed for the occasion, as well as 10,000 soldiers of the so-called Sentinelle military operation.

A specially created battalion has been tasked to secure the embarkation zone for athletes located along Paris' eastern portion of the river. The battalion's mission includes the full protection of the area, the boats and the attendees, in close coordination with other security forces.

"This mission is complex and unprecedented," Lieutenant-Colonel Olivier, chief of operations of the battalion, said Wednesday. "It’s complex because we’re in an environment — the Parisian environment, the Seine — which is an urban environment ... with obvious vulnerabilities. The Seine is an area where there are a lot of activities."

Former US President Donald Trump’s assassination attempt Saturday further raised awareness about the highly sensitive mission.

Paris has been the target of deadly terror attacks in the past decade, and the Seine flows through the heart of the city, surrounded by office and apartment buildings and used every day by barges and other ships.

"We were already on a very high level of security. So the attack on Donald Trump only reinforces our vigilance," Lieutenant-Colonel Olivier said.

Military officers requested to be identified by their first names only for reasons of security.

Specialized units have been mobilized for the operation that involves deployment of high-tech technology such as drones and sonars, as well as combat divers, boat intervention groups, patrols along the Seine and military dogs. Water barriers going from the riverbed to the surface have been installed to prevent any intrusions into protected area.

In addition, the battalion is using counter-drone systems and works in close coordination with the French Air Force, which secures the Paris skies, Lieutenant-Colonel Olivier said.

The military "is ready to respond to any type of threat" that may be underwater, on water, on land or in the air, Captain Quentin, who is commanding a company of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion, said.

Troops aboard rapid boats "are able to intervene at very short notice, to any type of threat, to cross the Seine in a matter of minutes and rapidly deploy for deterrence or to take action on site," he said.

A special anti-terrorism perimeter for the opening ceremony will start being implemented Thursday. Protected areas along the Seine have a special legal status, making them off-limits to the unauthorized public.

Staff Sergeant Sofiane, from the 132nd Canine Infantry Regiment, said his 3-year-old dog, Stimo, is trained to detect intruders and would alert him by barking.

In case of an intrusion the staff sergeant could order Stimo to attack and neutralize an intruder, either hitting the person with a very rigid muzzle or attacking without the muzzle.

With France soon to be in the world's spotlight, the Olympics security mission is a unique experience for the soldiers, and even a chance for some to discover Paris.

"They have the feeling that they are there for something special," Captain Quentin said. "And they’re all the more vigilant and ready for the occasion."



Liverpool Held By Everton, Four Red Cards in Fiery Last Goodison Park Derby

Liverpool edge seven points clear at the top of the Premier League but were denied a vital win by Tarkowski's blistering strike after Mohamed Salah put Arne Slot's men in front. (File photo by Reuters)
Liverpool edge seven points clear at the top of the Premier League but were denied a vital win by Tarkowski's blistering strike after Mohamed Salah put Arne Slot's men in front. (File photo by Reuters)
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Liverpool Held By Everton, Four Red Cards in Fiery Last Goodison Park Derby

Liverpool edge seven points clear at the top of the Premier League but were denied a vital win by Tarkowski's blistering strike after Mohamed Salah put Arne Slot's men in front. (File photo by Reuters)
Liverpool edge seven points clear at the top of the Premier League but were denied a vital win by Tarkowski's blistering strike after Mohamed Salah put Arne Slot's men in front. (File photo by Reuters)

James Tarkowski struck in the 98th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw for Everton against Liverpool as four red cards were issued after full-time on a dramatic final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Liverpool edge seven points clear at the top of the Premier League but were denied a vital win by Tarkowski's blistering strike after Mohamed Salah put Arne Slot's men in front.

Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure, Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were then sent off as tempers flared at the final whistle on a night Liverpool will come to regret if they do not go on to lift a record-equalling 20th English top flight title.

"Very tough," said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. "We saw the celebrations they had in the end so we know how much it meant for them but the fact is it was disappointing for us."

Everton are set to move to a new 53,000 capacity stadium in Liverpool's Bramley Moore Dock next season and gave their home since 1892 a night to remember against their local rivals, AFP reported.

"Mental probably sums it up," said Everton boss David Moyes. "A brilliant finish for us, to finish the last Goodison Merseyside derby and score in the last minute is in a way fitting."

Liverpool's quest for a quadruple came unstuck with a shock FA Cup exit to second-tier strugglers Plymouth on Sunday.

Slot made 10 changes as he resorted to his strongest available side with Salah and Van Dijk among those who had been afforded the weekend off.

Everton's own FA Cup exit to Bournemouth on Saturday had punctured some of their momentum since Moyes' return for a second spell in charge.

The Toffees had won their previous three Premier League games to pull nine points clear of the relegation zone and got off to a flying start.

Liverpool were caught napping on 11 minutes by a quick free-kick by Jarrad Branthwaite to free Beto, who beat Alisson Becker for his third goal in two league games.

The visitors could have been swept away in the feverish atmosphere early on but the Reds immediate response was the making of champions.

Alexis Mac Allister started and finished the move as the diminutive Argentine midfielder ghosted into the penalty area to head in Salah's teasing cross.

On target: Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring Liverpool's second goal Photo: Paul ELLIS

Everton then suffered a huge blow as their creative hub Iliman Ndiaye limped off in tears after a long stoppage.

The first half never recovered its flow amid a flurry of fouls and yellow cards as the Premier League fixture with the most red cards in history threatened to boil over once more.

The home crowd briefly erupted once more when Branthwaite fired home only for the celebrations to be cut short by the offside flag.

Slot was growing visibly frustrated with his side's lack of penetration going forward and turned to his bench for an impact with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jones and Darwin Nunez sent on to find a winner.

The changes worked as Salah delivered what looked like a potential title-clinching moment.

Jones and Nunez exchanged a one-two and when the former's shot was blocked by Branthwaite, it fell kindly for Salah to prod in his 27th goal of the season.

Only a brilliant save by Jordan Pickford crucially denied Salah a second late on.

And Everton rallied when Liverpool failed to deal with a hopeful ball into the box and it fell to centre-back Tarkowski to fire into the top corner.

A lengthy VAR check followed for offside and Everton fans had to be cleared off the pitch before the game could restart.

When it did there was more fireworks as Doucoure and Jones were both shown sent off clashing after the Everton midfielder celebrated in front of the travelling Liverpool support.

Slot and Hulshoff also saw reds for taking their protests towards referee Michael Oliver too far after the game.