PARIS (TVBS News) — A complicated day marked the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris, with rain dampening the expectations of the public and Taiwanese athletes. Organizers postponed the skateboarding events scheduled at the Place de la Concorde until Monday, disappointing many foreign tourists, but not all of them.
Kat V., a tourist from the U.S., shared her experience: "It's pretty cool. It's pretty overwhelming seeing everything and seeing all the cops and just seeing this whole area. It's pretty amazing, though, even though the weather isn't ideal, but I'm happy to be here." She added, "I'm gonna be watching the swimming prelims tomorrow. I'm very excited. I get to see, see a bunch of swims. So I get to see the 4 IMs (individual medley), so I'll get to see Léon Marchand swim tomorrow, which is so exciting."
Meanwhile, subway traffic was interrupted for an hour and a half at midday on Saturday on Line 13 of the Paris metro, which serves the Stade de France, a major Olympics venue. Trains were suspended due to a serious passenger accident, and emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene, according to authorities. Passengers on three trains were evacuated into the tunnels, causing significant delays.
Emilie B. and Yohan C., Parisians, noted the heightened security: "So far, it's been quite a nice day, and we are happy to see all the sports and athletes. As Parisians, we are feeling more safe than usual. There's all those policemen around, so we feel that there has been some measure taken to ensure that everything will be safe and doing nicely."
The French railway company SNCF is still dealing with the consequences of Friday's sabotage. The railway company reports that seven out of ten trains are running on average this Saturday. However, delays of one to two hours are still expected on Sunday.
Despite the disruptions and adverse weather conditions, the spirit of the Olympics remains high among attendees and athletes alike. The challenges faced on the first day have not dampened the enthusiasm and excitement surrounding the games.
In other words, the first day of the Olympics in Paris presented various challenges, from rain-drenched events to transportation disruptions. Yet, the resilience and excitement of both locals and visitors shine through, promising a memorable Olympic experience.
