According to officials, a car deliberately hit a police van before bursting into flames on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

The driver, who was on a security watchlist, died in the incident and police reportedly found weapons and gas bottles in the car.

No-one else was hurt.

The Paris 2024 event on Friday (June 23) and Saturday (July 24) will still take place as the city continues its Olympic and Paralympic bid.

"The Paris 2024 Olympic Day celebrations will go ahead as planned with strong security measures in place," a Paris 2024 spokesperson told insidethegames.

"Police and security services in Paris have demonstrated once again their professionalism in dealing with this incident swiftly and effectively.

"As per previous statements made by the bid, security is a top priority for Paris 2024 and is an area they have strong expertise in."

Olympic Day is dedicated to the founding of the international Olympic Movement by Pierre de Coubertin on June 23, 1894.

It aims to spread the ideals of the Olympic Movement and promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

Paris is set to be transformed into a gigantic sports park to mark the occasion.

Stretching from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame along the River Seine, the zone will offer the chance to sample more than 30 sports.

A floating athletics track on the Seine, sports fields on the lawn of Les Invalides, trampolines in the Petit Palais, a high diving board on Pont Alexander III, a cycle track in Paris city centre and a climbing wall on the Pavillon de l'Arsenal will be on display among other attractions.

Up to 300 kayakers, led by Paris 2024 co-chair and triple Olympic canoe champion Tony Estanguet, will form a giant flotilla that will travel along the Seine to the floating athletics track where Estanguet will join the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and the President of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, Denis Masseglia, to inaugurate the two days.

On June 24 thousands of professional and amateur athletes will gather to take part in "2,024 kilometres for Paris".

The event involves cyclists at the Place de la Concorde, equestrian riders from Versailles and runners from each of the four corners of Paris converging on Les Invalides.

Paris has been on high alert since bombing and shooting atrocities in November 2015 left 130 people dead.

Last July, 86 people were killed and 434 were injured when a lorry was driven into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the southern French city of Nice.

An incident also took place in February outside the Louvre Museum in Paris, when a soldier shot a man who, according to police, was carrying a machete and shouting "Allahu Akbar" - an Islamic phrase meaning "God is most great".

A policeman was also shot dead and two others were wounded in another attack on the Champs-Élysées in April, while a man was shot and killed following an altercation with a police officer at Orly Airport in March.

"Innovative" security measures including anti-drone technology and cyber crime prevention techniques are being pioneered by French authorities in time for use in 2024.