Security beefed up in Paris ahead of Olympics
The Paris Olympics are just around the corner and authorities in France are not taking any chances on security, as the national terrorist alert remains at the highest level.  Police from France and dozens of other countries, alongside local security personnel, have been deployed to patrol major landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées in the days leading up to the Games. For the first time, the Olympic opening ceremony will be held outdoors, with about 300,000 spectators expected to gather along the Seine River for the spectacular show on Friday evening.  As part of their arrangements, French authorities have set up security perimetres, known as “grey zones”, near the river, and tourists will need to apply for a QR code in advance for entry.  “The police presence around the Olympic venues and events is very strong, and implementations of the red and grey zones to block of pedestrians and vehicle traffic as they see fit. I guess they are good, even though I can’t really walk the Seine right now because I don’t have a grey pass,” American tourist Mitchell Hasenpflug told RTHK. Takehiro Kinoshita, who travelled with his family from Japan to watch the skateboarding event, said he was surprised to see how clean and prepared the city is for the Games. “I feel all the time safe 'cause you see all the police around the corner, and it’s amazing so I cannot complain,” he said.  But not everyone's amused. A local resident, Dominique, said traffic is getting worse with restricted zones and an influx of people. “I think it’s terrible, but we didn’t have the choice either… but no, of course you have inconvenience for these Olympic Games.”  Some businesses located in the sealed-off areas said they too are feeling the pinch, complaining about fewer customers.  Some also said they are closing for a few days until after the opening ceremony on July 26.