![Paris holds its breath for Olympics opening ceremony and superstar Nadal](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/69/7c/fb/Paris-holds-its-breath-for-Olympics-584752.jpg)
-
Child abuse scandals hang over pope's East Timor visit
-
Manhunt underway in US after Kentucky highway shooting
-
Biden team, end in sight, keeps hope on Gaza truce despite setbacks
-
Sabalenka dedicates US Open to family 'who never gave up' on dream
-
Venezuela takes diplomatic jab at Brazil in spat over election
-
Multiple people shot along highway in US state of Kentucky
-
'Super proud' Sabalenka downs Pegula to win US Open thriller
-
In Papua New Guinea, Pope holds mass 'at the edge of the world'
-
Hewett stays positive for wheelchair tennis despite agonising defeat
-
Three things on US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka
-
Sabalenka downs Pegula to win US Open thriller
-
USA men land Paralympic basketball three-peat, Jiang takes 7th swim gold
-
USA slump to first home defeat against Canada in 67 years
-
Argentina hand Australia record 67-27 loss in Rugby Championship
-
England impress on Carsley bow, Germany, Dutch hit five
-
AFP photographer wins top prize for Gaza coverage
-
No Love for Packers for three weeks after ligament sprain: reports
-
Pedro Almodovar: chronicler of modern Spain crowned in Venice
-
Almodovar wins top Venice prize for end-of-life film
-
Trump sounds dark tone at rally, Harris 'ready' for debate
-
Wirtz and Musiala dazzle to kick-start new Germany era
-
Chinese teenager takes 7th gold of Paris Paralympics
-
England interim boss Carsley 'respects' divided opinions over anthem
-
Neuville moves to the front in the Acropolis Rally
-
Garfield, Pugh charm Toronto in new romance 'We Live in Time'
-
21 boys confirmed dead in Kenya school inferno
-
Over 100,000 protest in France against new prime minister
-
Golden 30 minutes takes China to swimming Paralympics swimming domination
-
Green leads Australia to T20 series sweep of Scotland
-
Nigeria, Cameroon win afer chaotic AFCON build-ups
-
Nicole Kidman: A-lister, cinematic chameleon, wins in Venice
-
'I had to prove myself', says Kolisi after win against All Blacks
-
Almodovar wins top prize at Venice film festival
-
Grealish savours England redemption after 'worst summer'
-
Carsley makes flying start as England interim boss in win over Ireland
-
Springboks close on Rugby Championship with storming win over All Blacks
-
Sri Lanka's De Silva and Kamindu Mendis defy England in third Test
-
Farrell's Racing lose on opening day of Top 14
-
Ireland and UK to 'reset' relations as Starmer visits Dublin
-
Dunbar takes second Vuelta stage as Roglic closes in on victory
-
Fritz eyes US Open glory to end 21 years of American hurt
-
Thousands protest in France against new prime minister
-
Death toll from Kenya school blaze rises to 21
-
Brazil's right rallies for 'freedom' after X suspended
-
Trump to hold rally in swing state, Harris preps for debate
-
Stone at the double as Sri Lanka collapse against England in third Test
-
French tennis player takes legal action over online abuse
-
Italy backs Kyiv's 'legitimate defence' as Zelensky presses allies
-
The Body Shop rescued from administration after deal
-
Martin roars to victory in San Marino sprint, extends MotoGP lead
![Paris holds its breath for Olympics opening ceremony and superstar Nadal](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/69/7c/fb/Paris-holds-its-breath-for-Olympics-584752.jpg)
Paris holds its breath for Olympics opening ceremony and superstar Nadal
Paris was on Thursday counting down the hours to the most ambitious Olympics opening ceremony in history on the river Seine, as tennis icon Rafael Nadal was fighting an injury battle which could shatter his gold medal dreams.
The show on Friday evening will see up to 7,500 competitors sail down a six-kilometre stretch of the Seine on 85 boats, accompanied by a performance blending French culture and Olympic values that organisers promise will be spectacular.
Compared to the Covid-blighted Tokyo Olympics, where the Games were delayed by a year and opened in an empty stadium, the Paris ceremony will take place in front of 300,000 spectators and an audience of VIPs and celebrities from around the world.
The line-up of performers is a closely guarded secret but US pop star Lady Gaga and French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura -- the most listened-to French-speaking singer in the world -- are rumoured to be among them.
The ceremony will take place amid an unprecedented security operation.
Central Paris has been turned into a fortress, with metal barriers along both banks of the Seine. Only residents and people with hotel bookings can enter the high-security area.
Police snipers are set to be positioned on every high point along the route, with an assassination attempt on US presidential candidate Donald Trump on July 13 helping focus minds.
Israel and the Palestinian team will be given extra security with the tensions from the Israeli offensive in Gaza feared to be a potential motive for would-be attackers.
- Scandal-hit Canadians -
Nadal, a two-time gold medallist whose career has been plagued by a series of injuries, suffered a thigh injury in training at Roland Garros.
"I can't guarantee anything, that he won't play or he will play," said Nadal's coach Carlos Moya.
"At the moment he needs to rest, undergo treatment."
Earlier Thursday, 2008 singles gold medallist Nadal was drawn for a potential second round clash against 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
He is also due to play doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.
In another blow to the event following the withdrawal of world number one Jannik Sinner, two-time Olympic champion Andy Murray pulled out from the singles.
Women's football took centre stage Thursday after a chaotic start to the sporting action in the men's football 24 hours earlier.
The Spanish women's team, the reigning world champions who are making their first-ever Olympics appearance, beat Japan 2-1 thanks to goals from 2023 world player of the year Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey.
The United States, the four-time gold medallists, defeated Zambia 3-0 in their opener.
Scandal-hit reigning champions Canada overcame New Zealand 2-1 without their coach Bev Priestman on the sidelines after she decided it would be inappropriate following incidents of Canadian staff spying on their opponents' training sessions with drones.
"We are not cheats," said Canada defender Vanessa Gilles. "As Canadians, these are not our values or those of our country."
Canada's assistant coach and an analyst were dismissed from the Olympics for their part in the affair.
It all added up to a difficult start for the football at the Games after a chaotic end to Argentina men's match against Morocco when the football kicked off on Wednesday.
Morocco beat the two-time Olympic champions 2-1 in Saint-Etienne, but only after a late equaliser for the South American side was disallowed and the final minutes took place in an empty stadium following crowd trouble.
US gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, set to once again be one of the faces of the Olympics, got her first taste of the Bercy Arena as she trained ahead of the start of competition at the weekend.
Biles is strongly tipped to add to her haul of four Olympic golds at the Paris Games after a tumultuous campaign in Tokyo three years ago, when she pulled out of most of her events as she battled the disorientating condition that gymnasts call "twisties".
Antoine Dupont inspired France to a thrilling 26-14 Olympic sevens quarter-final win over Argentina as New Zealand suffered a shock loss to South Africa.
Double gold medallists Fiji survived a huge scare from Ireland, narrowly retaining their unvanquished Olympic record with a dramatic come-from-behind 19-15 win.
In the other quarter-final, Australia defeated the USA 18-0.
R.Adler--BTB