French authorities have holstered security in large parts of central Paris ahead of the opening ceremony of 2024 Olympic games.
The multi-sports showpiece is scheduled to run from July 26 to August 11.
The country’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin revealed to the media, saying measures have been put in place to forestall security threats during the games.
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“We’re entering a very operational phase of hosting the world’s biggest event,” he was quoted by AP.
The opening parade along six kilometres (four miles) of the river led to the closure of riverside central districts to most vehicles from 5:00 am (0300 GMT) on Thursday.
Anyone wanting to enter the highest-security “grey zone” along both banks of the Seine, such as residents or tourists with hotel reservations in the area, will need a security pass in the form of a QR code.
With the opening ceremony just eight days away, the City of Light is transforming ahead of the Games when around 10 million spectators are expected.
Temporary sports stadiums have sprung up at popular locations such as the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides or the Place de la Concorde, while new Olympic VIP lanes are the latest traffic-snarling addition.
Many central Metro stations were also closed on Thursday until the day after the opening ceremony, which will see 6,000-7,000 athletes sail down the Seine on around a hundred barges and riverboats.
Elsewhere on Thursday, the first athletes are set to arrive to take up residence in the newly built Olympic Village in a northern suburb of the capital.
By Dotun Omisakin
