In a shocking incident just days before the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, an Australian woman was reportedly gang-raped in the French capital. The incident has left the city and visiting athletic teams on edge as concerns over safety continue to mount.

According to reports from France's Le Parisien newspaper, the 25-year-old victim raised the alarm in the early hours of Saturday. The disoriented woman entered a local restaurant in the renowned Pigalle neighborhood, wearing her dress backward. The Paris prosecutor's office stated that a gang rape likely occurred between Friday and Saturday, and a thorough investigation is currently underway.

Australia's Olympic team confirmed that their athletes in Paris had been made aware of the alleged attack. Strath Gordon, chief of public affairs and communication for Australia's Olympic team, stated that the athletes had been advised not to wear team kits in public places. Despite the incident, the athletes have not received any threats and are focused on their preparations for the Games.

The Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, headed by Tony Estanguet, had earlier pledged that the French capital would be "the safest place in the world" during the Olympics. However, hosting such a grand sporting event has raised significant security concerns in France. Authorities are grappling with the challenge of ensuring public and athletes' safety while maintaining the openness of the event.

The Olympics will see security officials handling various potential threats, including terrorist attacks, cyberattacks, crowd management, and the impact of possible labor strikes. The June rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl in a suburb of Paris had already triggered protests and highlighted the issue of antisemitism in the country.

Paris aims to host the first fully gender-equal Games and significantly reduce carbon emissions. The Opening Ceremonies, set to be the largest in Games history, will take place outside of a stadium with a parade of athletes along the Seine. Recent declarations from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo assure that the Seine is clean after months of delays and contamination reports.

To ensure the safety of the Games, around 15,000 soldiers and 35,000 police officers will be deployed as part of the security measures. Additionally, up to 22,000 private contractors are expected to work in and around the stadiums and sports facilities. In response to concerns, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that Israeli athletes will be provided with 24-hour protection during the Paris Olympics following calls from a far-left French lawmaker to protest against their participation.

As the world eagerly awaits the official opening of the Paris 2024 Olympics, this recent incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in hosting a global sporting event of this magnitude. Authorities are striving to strike a delicate balance between ensuring safety and preserving the spirit of the Games.