Paris Olympics: Opening ceremony rehearsal held on Seine river
When we think of Olympic openings, we think of the Big O in 76 or Athens in O4, all of them inside a stadium. But in Paris, the plan is to let the Games begin with a show like no other. Along the River Seine, 94 boats are in place to take more than 10,000 athletes on A6 kilometre boat ride, passing some of the city's most iconic landmarks along the way. Finishing opposite the Eiffel Tower, more advanced rehearsals took place on Monday numbered flags in place of national banners for a spectacle to be watched by 300,000 spectators and 100 world leaders protected by 45,000 police. We have a security system which is very robust in terms of protecting spectators on the riverbanks and on the entire perimeter. President Emmanuel Macron says there is a Plan B or Plan C if needed. B would reportedly confine events to the Eiffel Tower area. C would be at the Stade de France Olympic Stadium. It was one of the targets of the simultaneous Paris terror attacks in 2015. But you have more controls over a restricted area because you have the benefit of a structure to protect the patrons as opposed to the river which is more of an open-ended space. The Seine will also host triathlon swimming events once its waters have been cleaned up and once they have camped down. Macron and the mayor of Paris have both promised to swim in the river before the Games to prove it's clean. The mayor's dip has already been postponed due to the strong spring currents and the national elections. Redmond, Shannon. Global News, London.