The Belgian army will be involved in providing security for the Paris Olympics, offering support in the field of explosives detection, Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced on Tuesday.
French organizers and the interior ministry have asked 46 countries to send police and soldiers to help secure the Paris Olympics amid a rising terror threat across Europe.
The French interior ministry said in a January briefing that more than 2,000 police officers would be needed for the summer games.
France has been put on heightened alert for the duration of the Games because of potential attacks.
The ministry noted that France sent 200 police officers to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has asked nations to reciprocate by contributing a small number of special security forces.
The Polish defense ministry had already indicated it will send troops to secure the Paris Games and is now joined by Belgium.
Two and a half weeks ago, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin identified radical Islamists and various extremist groups as potential threats and noted that the possibility of cyberattacks is also growing. According to Darmanin, the opening ceremony along the Seine remains a major focus of security efforts and attention. To minimize the risk of threats, efforts are ongoing to reduce the number of people attending the event.
For the first time in the history of the Olympics, the ceremony will be held outside the stadium, at an outdoor venue on the River Seine, where a section of almost 6 kilometers will be controlled. The riverside venue is expected to attract around 300,000 spectators, compared to the initially estimated crowd of approximately 600,000.
The Paris Summer Olympics will begin on July 26.
