Some 3,600 officers have agreed to take foreign language lessons — mostly English — to offer better assistance to visitors, The Times reports.

French interior minister Gérald Darmanin has sent a handwritten letter to French police and fire officers warning them that the “eyes of the world are upon you”.

The letter adds: “I am counting on each and every one of you to display France’s finest face: benevolent, friendly, professional.”

Around 45,000 police officers are expected to be on duty during the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday and around 30,000 per day afterwards.