Soldiers patrol along the Seine River, dressed in camouflage and blue berets, big rifles slung over their shoulders. The Police Nationale stand guard at checkpoints, turning away people who want to stroll at the water’s edge.
A four-mile stretch of this iconic river, in the heart of the city, is on lockdown.
The 2024 Paris Olympics will stage an unusual opening ceremony here on Friday. In a departure from the usual stadium show, dancers, musicians and athletes will cruise down the Seine on a flotilla of boats as hundreds of thousands of spectators watch from bridges and grandstands.
With a glowing Eiffel Tower in the background, it promises to be visually stunning. Also, a massive security headache.
“If there is one event that is under…
