The Eiffel Tower has been evacuated after a shirtless man was spotted scaling the iconic Parisian landmark just hours before the Olympics closing ceremony. The daredevil was seen climbing the 330-meter tall tower this afternoon, with his starting point unclear.
He was noticed just above the Olympic rings that adorn the second section of the monument, slightly above the first viewing deck.
At around 3pm, police ushered visitors away from the area, with those briefly trapped on the second floor allowed to leave about half an hour later.
The Eiffel Tower, which was a focal point during the opening ceremony featuring Celine Dion, is not expected to play a part in the closing ceremony which is set to kick off at Stade de France in Saint-Denis at 9pm.
The incident comes as the Games draw to a close and security services shift their attention to the closing ceremony.
Over 30,000 police officers were deployed around Paris on Sunday, with Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stating that around 3,000 officers would be mobilised around the Stade de France.
An additional 20,000 police troops and other security personnel would be on duty late into Sunday night to ensure safety on the final day of the Olympics.
Team GB ended seventh in the final medal table with 14 golds, 22 silvers and 29 bronzes. China topped the standings with 40 golds.
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