Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE: Chaos as arson attack hits Paris rail network in attempted sabotage just hours before opening ceremony is set to begin with all airports closed in French capital amid fears Putin may be behind strike

Eurostar has asked customers to cancel their journeys on Friday if they can, amid continued disruption to its services.

In an update to an earlier statement, the rail operator said: “We encourage our customers to postpone their journey if possible.”

The announcement will come as unwelcome news to the thousands of sports fans hoping to travel to Paris by train for the start of the Olympic Games.

On a more positive note, let’s take a look at the start of the Olympic celebrations in Paris.

The final leg of the Olympic torch relay began this morning, with IOC President Thomas Bach and IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Emma Terho pictured taking part in the event at the Olympic Village.

The torch has been handed over to China’s Wu Jingyu, who has now passed it on to Masomah Ali Zara, who is the head of the Refugee Olympic Committee.

French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera (pictured below with French President Emmanuel Macron) said the arson attacks on France’s rail network today were “probably coordinated.”

She told Sky News: “It’s probably large-scale sabotage with some malicious acts, probably coordinated.

“We are still in the process of analyzing all the impacts, of evaluating what we are going to implement as solutions because it will also have impacts during the weekend.”

Ms Oudéa-Castera also admitted that the “malicious acts” could be the work of Russia or a terrorist group, as well as “protesters or even French citizens”.

She said the arsonists were “playing against the side of the athletes, who have worked so hard for so many years.”

She added: “I’m a little angry. We’re not going to let this destabilize us.”

Fears are growing that Moscow could be behind today’s “massive arson attack” which has caused chaos on France’s rail network after a suspected Russian spy was arrested earlier this week.

Kirill Gryaznov (below), 40, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with working “with a foreign power to try to incite hostilities in France” after being identified as someone working for the FSB, Vladimir Putin’s domestic intelligence agency.

Gryaznov, who denies wrongdoing, is reported to have boasted of turning the start of the Paris Olympics into “an opening ceremony like no other”.

Traffic has begun to build up at the port of Dover in Kent this morning amid ongoing cross-Channel travel chaos.

Drivers are being warned to expect a “weekend of woe” on the roads as millions of families embark on getaway trips after many schools in England and Wales suspended classes for the summer this week.

Several Eurostar trains to Paris have been cancelled and others diverted following today’s arson attacks.

The rail operator, which runs international services from London St Pancras, confirmed its trains would be delayed due to the ongoing problems at the Channel.

Eurostar said that “all high-speed trains to and from Paris will be diverted today via the classic line.”

“This extends the journey time by about an hour and a half,” he added. Several trains have been cancelled.

“Eurostar teams are fully mobilised at stations, in call centres and on board to ensure that all passengers are informed and able to reach their destination.”

The company said customers were being informed by email, text messages and on the Eurostar website.

Any affected passenger will be able to cancel or refund their tickets or modify their trip free of charge.

As mentioned below, a “massive fire” on France’s rail network has caused chaos at the start of the Paris Olympics today.

Just hours before the opening ceremony on the Seine, fires broke out at key facilities, paralysing trains and affecting some 800,000 passengers.

Gare du Nord, the main Eurostar station in Paris, has been hit by attacks on the rail network, a spokesman for SNCF, France’s rail operator, said.

This led to the cancellation of multiple services, including those bringing sports fans to the French capital.

Read our full story below:

Good morning everyone and welcome to MailOnline’s live blog for the start of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The start of the world’s most coveted sporting event has not gotten off to the best of starts, with a “massive fire” on France’s rail network causing chaos across the country just hours before the opening ceremony.

We will bring you the latest updates as the day progresses as thousands of sports fans are expected to descend on the capital amid travel chaos.