This is for the third time that Paris is hosting the Olympics, being only the second city in the world (after London) to do so. Interestingly, the 2024 Games also mark the return of the Olympics to the French Capital after 100 years — it was first hosted in 1900 and later in 1924.
However, no amount of historical experience or milestone can prevent a sporting event from being a victim of politics, controversies and the ensuing chaos.
Back in France, many months before leading up to the games, the Macron government faced a lot of criticism for allegedly putting thousands of homeless immigrants on buses and sending them out of Paris. President Emmanuel Macron has made it clear that the Olympic Games will showcase his country’s “grandeur.” As per several ground reports that went viral on social media, thousands of migrants have been asked to board buses to cities like Lyon or Marseille.
The immigrants were reportedly assured that they would receive housing in their new locations but they found themselves living on unfamiliar streets or being threatened with potential deportation. A few accounts have also claimed that the police would arrive at dawn and even ask women and young children to bundle up their belongings and board a bus to temporary government housing in the eastern French town of Besancon.
This is not the only count on which the Macron-led French government has faced criticism. In September, last year, then French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera announced that French athletes would not be allowed to compete in hijab to respect the principles of secularism and to ensure absolute neutrality in public services.
The move, expectedly, was met with widespread criticism and protests, with France being home to Europe’s largest Muslim minorities. Notably, France is the only country in the world that excludes hijab-wearing athletes in sports competitions. However, soon after the French government’s announcement, IOC said that, “For the Olympic Village, IOC rules apply and as per the rules there are no restrictions on wearing the hijab or any other cultural attire.”
Political row over Russia
With Belarusian and Russian athletes being allowed to compete strictly as “neutrals” without flags or anthems, a total of just 16 Russians and 17 Belarusians have accepted invitations to compete under a neutral flag. That is not it. Russian sports federations have called the conditions of the Olympics “humiliating.” In the meanwhile, the decision on the participation of Russian athletes (who’ve been granted neutral status) in the closing ceremony to be held on August 11, will be made later this week.
“The decision on the participation of neutral athletes in the closing ceremony will be made later because the closing ceremony is not for the teams but for all the athletes. During the award ceremony, the flag will be raised and the anthem of the Authorized Neutral Athletes will be played,” said the IOC in a statement, earlier in the week. The political friction between Russia and France extends beyond athletes and Olympics, with the Macron government alleging that, “Russia will malevolently target the Olympics.” Statements that Russia has strongly dismissed.
Divisive opinions on Israel
Ever since Israel launched its war on Hamas in the wake of the October 7 attacks, several protestors, the United Nations and Palestinian activists have tried bringing attention to the atrocities against civilians conducted by Israel in Gaza. They have called on the IOC to ban Israel from the Olympics. Israel has been accused of genocide by South Africa in its case at the International Court of Justice. Protestors say that Netanyahu’s Israel must face the consequences of its actions.
In April, several hundred pro-Palestinian protestors gathered near the Olympics’ organisers headquarters and called for limiting Israel’s participation. They even cited the example of Russian athletes competing at the Olympics under a neutral flag. Despite widespread anti-Israel protests, Israel’s Olympic status has not changed, as it is all set to participate in the Olympic Games that begin on the 26th of July, 2024.
Concerns over surveillance, A.I
In Paris, the citizens have expressed rising concerns over “artificial intelligence-assisted surveillance systems” and how the latest technology encroaches upon personal freedom and human rights in unknown ways. It is not just the broadcast networks that will be watching the thousands of visitors and athletes who converge in France, the AI and surveillance cameras will be watching too.
So extensive are the security and surveillance systems and data-gathering tools that the French government had to amend its laws and provide a legal framework for the 2024 Olympics. These laws make France the first EU country to legally permit such a wide-reaching AI-powered surveillance system. Clearly, a privacy nightmare and yet another controversy surrounding the sporting event.
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