France’s trainlines were attacked by saboteurs on Friday, just hours before the Olympics officially begin with fears that travel chaos could mar the Opening Ceremony.

Here’s what you need to know about the Olympics on Friday.

RAILWAYS ATTACKED

Vandals attacked France’s high-speed train network with a series of coordinated actions that brought major disruption to some of the country’s busiest rail lines.

The national rail operator SNCF said saboteurs had damaged signalling boxes on three of the main lines into Paris.

RAIN ON THE PARADE?

The Opening Ceremony is due to get underway at 1730 GMT and will feature more than 7,000 athletes and 3,000 performers.

Security is the main concern as delegations sail along the River Seine in front of 300,000 spectators, but officials may also be fretting about the weather.

Forecasts say rain is due in Paris on Friday evening, just as the event gets underway.

SPYING SCANDAL

Canada’s women soccer chief Bev Priestman was sent home from the Games on Thursday after the Canadian squad was accused of spying on rivals New Zealand by flying a drone over their training session.

Her departure came hours after Canada beat the Kiwis 2-1, with Canada Soccer CEO saying there was evidence drones had also been used to monitor opponents before the Olympics.

Priestman has apologised and said the buck stopped with her.

AILING TENNIS STARS

Women’s third seed Elena Rybakina has become the latest big name to pull out of the Olympics tennis.

The big-serving 25-year-old Kazakh said she had contracted acute bronchitis.

On Wednesday, men’s world number one and top seed Jannik Sinner of Italy had to withdraw from the singles and doubles because of illness, while exciting Danish youngster Holger Rune also pulled out on Wednesday with a wrist injury.

Czech player Marketa Vondrousova, who was runner-up in the singles in Tokyo three years ago, withdrew on Monday because of injury, as did Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz because of a knee injury sustained at Wimbledon.

(Reuters)