Central Paris locks down for Olympics as athletes arrive

The opening parade on July 26 along six kilometres (four miles) of the river Seine led to the closure of central river-side districts to most vehicles from 5:00 am (0300 GMT) on Thursday.

French Gendarmerie officers check pedestrians and cyclists QR codes and luggages at a barriers checkpoint to circulate near the Louvre Museum in Paris on July 18, 2024, ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (AFP)