Olympics 2024 – stay: France ‘under attack’ as rail networks ‘sabotaged’ forward of video games | EUROtoday

“Traffic is starting to resume, we should see one train in three this afternoon,” mentioned 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.”

Simone Biles is thought for her high-flying, boundary-pushing gymnastics expertise, however she may be simply as spectacular off the competitors mat in her help for fellow athletes. Biles helped German gymnasts snag seats on a packed bus towards the Bercy Arena on Thursday when non-athletes meant to stay of their seats for the 45-minute experience. The area is the place the Paris 2024 gymnastics occasions 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 tales following Thursday’s podium apply.

Two-time Olympian Voss’s story additionally displayed a photograph of a customized, heart-shaped pin adorned with Biles’ signature. Trading pins on the Olympic Games has turn into customary amongst athletes, volunteers and different members as a gesture of friendship and camaraderie.

Voss’s teammate, three-time Olympian Pauline Schaefer-Betz, additionally excitedly posted a narrative 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 vogue by opting to put on full-length unitards for consolation and modesty.

Biles will be the most embellished gymnast on the World stage, however she has battled psychological well being points prior to now and now makes use of her experiences to encourage and help different athletes. The 27-year-old’s empathy was on show final month when reigning Olympic all-around champion Sunisa Lee was having a shaky efficiency at U.S. nationwide championships.

Biles pulled Lee apart and gave her a pep speak.

“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, mentioned of Biles after the competitors.

Trains from Paris now arriving right here at London St Pancras International between 75 and 80 minutes late, growing journey occasions by greater than half.

Delayed Eurostar passengers will probably be due compensation for arriving over an hour late. A delay of between one and hours qualifies for compensation of 25 per cent as money – or as a 30 per cent voucher for future journey.

One-way fares on so busy a day are prone to be about £100, indicating a refund of £25 in money 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.”

Sir Keir Starmer has mentioned disruption throughout France is “concerning” and urged individuals to comply with journey recommendation if going to the video 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 mentioned.

“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.”

The Paris Olympics is poised to ship sporting excellence in abundance; blink and you’ll miss one thing extraordinary on the largest stage in sport.

While information will tumble and pages in sport’s historical past books will probably be frantically rewritten throughout two action-packed weeks, these people who rise to grab the highlight, forging reminiscences for generations, will largely achieve this by pairing their athletic prowess with a human story. This is why there’s such a feverish anticipation for Simone Biles and her Olympic return.

Widely recognised as the best gymnast of all time, having amassed 37 medals throughout Olympic Games and world championships, Biles is able to dominate once more.

Yet this journey to Paris, together with a 732-day layoff, has made the 27-year-old an inspiration past the world.

Sport Editor Jack Rathborn’s 2024 Olympics preview:

One in 4 Eurostar trains will probably be cancelled on Friday and over the weekend following arson assaults on the French railway community, the corporate mentioned.

A Eurostar spokesperson advised 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.”

Snoop Dogg has been pictured carrying the Olympic torch within the final a part of the relay earlier than opening ceremony begins at 7.30pm Paris time.

His gold sneakers have additionally attracted consideration. “I had them custom made for the Olympics, they’re Snoop’s shoes,” he advised France TV.

Three-time Olympic medallist Jack Laugher is posting pictures of himself on the grownup content material website OnlyFans “for some more money”.

While Laugher, who grew to become Britain’s first Olympic diving champion at Rio 2016, receives funding largely from the earnings of the National Lottery, he’s topping up his earnings on OnlyFans – though his private web page stresses there will probably be no full-frontal nudity photographs of him.

“Just like most Olympic sports, there isn’t a lot of money in diving,” Laugher advised a number of nationwide 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 remark when contacted by the PA information company.

Images have emerged of the charred wires close to a railway in Courtalain, northern France, after coordinated arson assaults within the nation.

National rail firm SNCF mentioned its Atlantic, North and East networks had been broken within the incidents, however that an tried assault within the southeast was foiled.

French transport minister Patrice Vergriete has condemned the “malicious acts” which have severely disrupted journey throughout the nation on the day of the opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympics.