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Central Paris locks down for Olympics as athletes arrive

With the opening ceremony just days away, organizers are also putting the finishing touches to the temporary sports stadiums at iconic locations such as the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides or the Place de la Concorde.

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Thousands of French security forces locked down large parts of central Paris over the past three days, ahead of the hugely complex Olympics opening ceremony on Friday.

The opening parade on July 26 along six kilometers of the river Seine led to the closure of central river-side districts to most vehicles.

Traffic on the city's boulevards was lighter than usual, with many drivers staying away, while tourist numbers are down and many Paris residents have headed off on holiday to avoid the disruption.

"Our clients are down by 50 percent," said Renaud, a senior waiter at the famed Deux Magots cafe in Saint-Germain-des-Pres, which is inside the new security perimeter.

"Normally we have people queueing out the door," he told AFP, gesturing towards the numerous empty seats on the outdoor terrace.

With the opening ceremony just days away, organizers are also putting the finishing touches to the temporary sports stadiums at iconic locations such as the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides or the Place de la Concorde.

Advertising boards, new artwork and Olympics bunting are going up, while the creation of Olympic VIP traffic lanes this week are the latest change to the capital's streets.

"The Olympics have brought us nothing but misery," taxi driver Rabah Ouanes, 53, complained last week, saying traffic had been dreadful since April because of all the construction work.

"I have lots of clients who get in and then abandon their journey when they see they're not getting anywhere."

'SUPER EXCITED'

Elsewhere, the first athletes started arriving late last week at the newly built Olympic Village in the Saint-Ouen northern suburb of the capital which urban planners are hoping to regenerate.

Comprising around 40 different low-rise housing blocs, the complex has been built as a showcase of innovative construction techniques using low-carbon concrete, water recycling and reclaimed building materials.

It was intended to be free of air-conditioning, although Olympic delegations have ordered around 2,500 portable cooling units for their athletes out of fear of high temperatures.

UNPRECEDENTED CEREMONY

Securing the Paris Games remains the biggest priority for French authorities, with Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin insisting Wednesday that there was "no credible threat" against them at this stage.

The opening ceremony has been giving senior police officers cold sweats ever since it was announced in 2021 because of the difficulty of protecting so many spectators in such a large, densely packed urban area.

Around 6,000-7,000 athletes are set to sail down the Seine on nearly a hundred barges and river boats.

It will be the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium, with up to 500,000 people set to watch in person from stands, on the river banks and from the overlooking apartments.

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, need a security pass in the form of a QR code.

The installation of tens of thousands of metal security barriers all along the route and around the temporary venues has also outraged some Parisians.

"It's a bit like being in Planet of the Apes," Aissa Yago, who lives on the Ile Saint Louis in central Paris, told AFP. "All they need to do is throw us some peanuts."

Martine Dubois, a 74-year-old living in Saint-Germain-des-Pres, said the Olympics were "a real inconvenience".

The metro stop she uses for work was one of 10 closed for security reasons on Thursday and the barriers "make you feel like you're living in a prison," she told AFP.

Fans across Afghanistan meanwhile can tune in to watch the Games on Ariana Television.

 

Related stories:

Paris mayor swims in Seine River to prove it’s clean enough for Olympic events


Four Afghans included in Refugee Olympic Team for Paris 2024

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Afghanistan crush Bangladesh in landmark match at Sharjah

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Mohammad Nabi's 84 off 79 balls and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar's six-wicket haul led Afghanistan to a 92-run victory over Bangladesh in Sharjah on Wednesday in the first one-day international of a three-match series.

Chasing a mediocre 236, Bangladesh were bowled out for 143 as they lost their last eight wickets for 23 runs in Sharjah, which became the first venue to host 300 men's international matches.

Afghanistan were reeling at 71-5 before captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (52) and Nabi lifted them to 235 in 49.4 overs.

Bangladesh cruised to 120-2 in the chase led by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, but they collapsed after Nabi broke the partnership.

Sharjah will also host the remaining two matches in the series.

 

(Reuters)

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Afghanistan bat first, hand ODI debut to Sediqullah Atal

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Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss against Bangladesh in the first ODI in Sharjah on Wednesday afternoon and opted to bat first.

Shahidi said after the toss the reason for choosing to bat first was that “the pitch looks good and the ball moves a bit under lights”.

As the match got underway, Afghanistan handed a debut to left-hand opening batter Sediqullah Atal, with regular opener Ibrahim Zadran ruled out due to an ankle injury.

Atal, however, has played six T20Is already.

Afghanistan enters the series on the back of a 2-1 win against South Africa in September, while Bangladesh are playing their first ODI in eight months.

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has also included some familiar faces including Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi along with
Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib.

Afghanistan are coming off a 2-1 win against South Africa, even as Bangladesh are playing their first ODI in eight months

But Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto is leading his squad in the three-match ODI series as they look to bury their misery after being thrashed by South Africa in their two-match Test series last week.

Bangladesh meanwhile sit eight in the ICC ODI team rankings – just ahead of Afghanistan at ninth.

But Afghanistan are on a high in limited overs cricket, having beaten top nations including England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in last year's World Cup held in India.

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Afghanistan to tour Zimbabwe for all-format series 

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said the tour will take place from December 9 to January 6

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AfghanAtalan will tour Zimbabwe next month for an all-format series that will feature two Test matches, three ODIs and three T20Is. 

According to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) the tour will take place from December 9 to January 6. 

First up will be a three-match T20I series to be played on December 9, 11 and 12 at the Harare Sports Club.

This will be followed by a three-match ODI series on December 15, 17, and 19 at the same venue. 

The tour will conclude with a two-match Test series in Bulawayo, with the first Test scheduled from December 26 to 30 and the second from January 2 to 6.

Mirwais Ashraf, Chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, said in a statement that “this year (2024) has been quite productive for us both domestically and internationally, and we’ve had good achievements. 

“We are committed to striving hard and adding more bilateral cricket to our calendar in the next year and bringing more glory to our nation,” he said.

“The all-format tour to Zimbabwe is a significant event for us. We have a rich history with Zimbabwe, and playing there has always been challenging, but it’s a challenge I believe the AfghanAtalan can face confidently,” he added.

Zimbabwe Cricket’s Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani said December 26 and January 1 “Test matches are iconic cricket fixtures that we are delighted to be adding to our calendar this festive season and we are looking forward to celebrating in style one of the finest traditions in the sport’s long history.

“Before the Test series, scheduled for Bulawayo, we will start off with some T20I and ODI action in Harare to complete a full tour, a clear demonstration of our commitment to improve our game across all formats.

“Matches between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are always intense and exciting affairs and we have no doubt the players will once again serve up some great entertainment befitting such a historic tour.”

The AfghanAtalan squad will arrive in Zimbabwe on December 6, where they will have two practice sessions before the first T20I match on December 9.

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