The 2024 Paris Olympics attracted attention with innovations such as the cleaning of the Seine River and the integration of artificial intelligence, as well as gender equality among athletes for the first time. But that wasn’t the only thing that stood out. As Israeli attacks on Palestine continue, athlete delegations from Israel and Palestine will compete in Paris. This is becoming a hot topic for activists around the world.
Palestine protested against this
Recognized in 1995 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Palestine began participating in the Olympics in 1996 and is sending eight athletes to the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Palestinian athletes, who will compete in athletics, boxing, swimming, judo, taekwondo and shooting, arrived in Paris on Thursday, July 25. The athletes were welcomed by a crowd of supporters.
“France does not recognize Palestine as a country, so I am here to raise the flag. We are not treated like human beings, so when we come to play sports, people realize that we are equal to them,” said Palestinian swimmer Yazan Al-Bawwab.
The next day, athletes swam along the Seine carrying the now symbolic red, green and black flags and traditional keffiyehs, the symbol of Palestinian resistance. Many athletes wore embroidered Palestinian clothing.
Flag bearer Waseem Abu Sal, who will become Palestine’s first Olympic boxer, wore a white shirt with a picture of a plane dropping munitions on a child playing soccer under a sunny sky. Valerie Tarazi, an Olympic swimmer and Palestine’s second flag bearer, wore an outfit representing her family in Gaza.
Meanwhile, crowds gathered in Paris’ public viewing areas to protest against Israel’s Olympic delegation. Protesters unfurled banners and hung posters around the city, demanding Israel’s exclusion from the games. “When it comes to killing for sport, there is no competition,” one poster read, along with an image of an Olympic podium covered in blood, bombs and the Israeli flag.
Many activists have called for a boycott of the 33rd Olympic games following the inclusion of Israel’s team. There are also past examples where the IOC has condemned the actions of countries: Russian athletes were banned from competing as a national team in the 2024 games after their invasion of Ukraine and were required to publicly declare their military stance.
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At the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, Palestinian athletes sent a strong message against Israel with their traditional dress and symbolic protest. This historic participation is crucial for Palestine’s voice to be heard in the international arena. What do you think? Please don’t forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
