July 26, (THEWILL) – France’s high-speed rail network faced major disruptions on Friday morning due to apparent arson attacks, affecting 250,000 travellers on the day of the Olympic opening ceremony.
The French rail operator SNCF reported multiple fires set at train stations, describing it as “a massive attack on a large scale to paralyse” the rail system.
This incident has significantly impacted the transport plans for USA Basketball’s men’s and women’s teams between Paris and Lille, where the early games of their tournaments are scheduled.
SNCF announced delays and cancellations through the weekend, with no high-speed trains operating in Paris until at least Friday afternoon. This disruption will directly affect travel to the opening ceremony, set to take place along the River Seine. The rail company expects 800,000 travellers this weekend and is encouraging passengers to postpone their trips, offering refunds for cancelled journeys.
The northeastern line connecting Paris and Lille, crucial for USA Basketball’s travel plans, was among those affected. USA Basketball’s teams are uniquely positioned as the only basketball teams not staying in Lille for the first week of the Olympics. Instead, they have rented entire hotels in both cities, planning to practice in Paris and commute to Lille for games. The U.S. men’s team is scheduled to play Serbia on Sunday, while the women’s team faces Japan on Monday.
This incident highlights the logistical challenges faced by Olympic organisers. Basketball events were moved to Lille due to budget constraints and a desire to avoid building new structures solely for the Olympics. The decision to host early basketball games in Lille allows for 27,000 seats in a stadium previously used for the 2015 EuroBasket championship.
The arson attacks have raised security concerns, with a notable police presence observed at Paris’s Gare du Nord station on Thursday evening. The impact on other basketball delegations staying in Lille remains unclear. Canadian men’s basketball team, featuring NBA stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray, is not expected to attend the opening ceremony, according to a team source.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
