Security is tight in Paris with a strong police presence as the Games get underway. Photo: photosport
A Russian chef has been arrested in Paris accused of planning to destabilise the Olympic Games.
The man, in his 40s and known only as K, was believed to have been plotting to stage large-scale acts of "destabilisation" during the Games.
RNZ's correspondent in Paris Ross Cullen said K had been working as a chef at ski resorts and had taken Michelin star training courses, he had also appeared on a Russian reality television cooking show.
"He has been arrested on suspicion of destabilisation and supplying information to a foreign power."
Cullen said there had been rumours of a Russian cyber campaign during the Olympics, which Moscow had denied.
"There have been these threats, we know that the torch rely has been disrupted, or attempted to be disrupted, by people plotting to interfere with the torch relay and now a man arrested in Paris on day one, the day the sporting gets underway."
The opening ceremony will take place on Saturday, but many sports have already started including rugby sevens and football.
There was a strong police presence across Paris, Cullen said.
