Tight Security Planned for Paris Olympics Amid Global Tensions

The Paris Olympics' opening ceremony will feature a heavy security presence with 45,000 police officers and involve 80 boats sailing along the Seine. With over 100 heads of state attending and 300,000 spectators expected, security measures are stringent, especially in light of global conflicts and recent incidents.

Some 45,000 police officers will be deployed to secure the Paris Olympics' July 26 opening ceremony, which will be attended by over 100 heads of state and government, a senior official announced on Wednesday. This comes despite a recent attack on Donald Trump.

For the first time, the ceremony will take place outside a stadium and involve around 80 boats transporting international athletes on a six km route along the Seine towards the Eiffel Tower. The event is expected to attract over 300,000 spectators, making it a significant security challenge, especially given ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

'It's a huge perimeter to monitor, requiring extensive security personnel,' explained Lambis Konstantinidis, head of planning and coordination for the Games. The security plans are dynamic, adapting to current events and involving close collaboration with international counterparts.

Despite an assassination attempt on former U.S. president Trump at a recent rally, no changes have been made to the security plans for the Games. 'We're sharing all relevant information with U.S. security services and are confident in our coordinated efforts,' Konstantinidis noted.

The security headquarters for the Games in Saint-Denis, just outside Paris, will have over 100 personnel working non-stop. The French government has elevated its security alert to the highest level due to domestic and international threats, including an attempted Islamic State attack in Saint-Etienne earlier this year.

(With inputs from agencies.)