Members of the Gendarmerie are seen at Place de la Concorde ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. GETTY IMAGES

Two people from Channel 9, which is doing extensive coverage of the Olympic Games, were attacked by a gang. They allegedly wanted to rob them of a backpack. This comes a day after an alleged gang rape against a woman, also Australian.

Security measures are a vital part of the Olympic Games. It is an important factor in deciding which candidate city is chosen to host such a big event. The French police are putting in place special arrangements to try to prevent crime and violence. But that does not prevent concerns about what might happen during the Games. Including terrorist threats.

Last Sunday the case of an Australian woman who was allegedly raped by five men was reported. She then fled to seek refuge in a catering establishment. On Monday it was two people from Australia's Channel 9 who were attacked with the intention of stealing a rucksack. They were returning to their accommodation. They had to escape but were not seriously injured. 

One of the people attacked, journalist Christine Ahearne, had reported on the anti-terrorist unit that had been set up for the security operation days before the raid.



Two years ago, Paris already experienced an unusual situation. The Stade de France, the Olympic stadium for Paris 2024, was the venue for the Champions League final in 2022. Real Madrid and Liverpool were facing each other. There were numerous incidents and many fans reported that the security arrangements were a disaster.

There were sexual assaults, robberies with violence and many people entered the stadium without tickets. It served as a small rehearsal for the Olympics, and it went wrong.

With the Olympics, the threats are multiplying. The UK has warned citizens travelling to Paris to take extra precautions. Both at sporting events and when travelling in the usual tourist areas.