The summer of 2024 is packed with action and offers every sports fan many options. After the end of EURO 2024 and Copa America, people will have access to the Paris 2024 Olympics. The multi-sport event will feature all sorts of athletes and competitions, and it will start just a few days from now.
Speaking of Paris 2024, Nostrabet.com revealed that there are loads of controversies around this year’s Summer Olympics. For example, the opening ceremony will take place on the Seine, and there will be 300,000 instead of 600,000 spectators. This is just one of the many things that some people do not agree with. “The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will definitely be one of the year’s highlights. We will have the chance to see some of the world’s best athletes, but before that, it’s time to reveal some of the biggest controversies. The situation with the opening ceremony is just the beginning”, said Kristiyan from NB.
There is a lot to discuss, so let’s look at some of the most shocking facts about the Olympic Games 2024.
#1 The promotional materials
Like any other big competition, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will have its own promotional materials. The tournament’s mascot is The Phryges, and the organizers decided to create loads of plush toys. However, these toys were made in China instead of being manufactured in France. This did not appeal to some people who criticized the French government for it.
Speaking of promotional materials for the Paris Olympic Games 2024, people can also find the so-called Olympic Poster. Revealed in March 2024, it is a cool render of Paris showcasing France’s capital’s most iconic places.
That said, this also received huge criticism because the organizers decided to remove symbols of the French and Christian identity.
#2 The security concerns
Everyone knows Paris is one of the world’s most popular tourist cities. Unfortunately, Paris, as well as all other big cities in Europe, is not as safe as it once was. There are many reasons for this, and it is one of the things that people worry about before the Olympic Games in 2024.
Reports from reputable names in the security industry indicate there are high risks of terrorist attacks. For these reasons, the authorities in France will tighten their security measures. According to the information, the airports in Paris won’t be open on July 26. Moreover, the authorities will set security parameters and monitor everything.
#3 Environmental issues
Almost every big event, whether related to sports, concerts, or something else, is involved in environmental controversies. The Paris Games 2024 are no exception because organizers had to deal with several issues.
The first one is related to surfing, one of the interesting sports that fans can watch. The French authorities decided to host the event in Tahiti and build a special aluminium tower so that the judges could have a better view. Unsurprisingly, this sparked many controversies.
According to locals and surfers, this tower could damage the coral reef. Unsurprisingly, more than 239,000 people signed a petition against its construction. Locals suggested that judges use the existing wooden tower.
Speaking of environmental issues and France, we must remind you about the 2023 Paris redbug infestation. This caused loads of issues last year, and some people are worried that it could happen again.
In their attempt to be more environmentally friendly, the hosts of the Paris Olympic Games 2024 came up with a unique cooling system. However, it became clear that it would not be as effective as they would want, especially considering the heatwave in Europe. Consequently, several countries decided to provide their athletes with ACs, which caused some controversy.
The Seine
Last but not least, we have another controversy about the Seine and its pollution. The river has had a big role in the Olympic Games before, but many sources claim it is too populated to use it today. As a result, the authorities invested more than $1.5B into ensuring that the river is safe to use.
Although many attempts were made to remove the events that were supposed to occur in the Seine, the authorities said the bacteria level was within limits. That said, we are yet to see what will happen.
Something that shocked a lot of people was a threat from certain people in Paris to poop in the river to contaminate it for the upcoming Olympic Games. It started as a joke, but many people started sharing the hashtag, so we are not sure whether such a thing will take place.
#4 Human Rights Concern
Another Paris 2024 Olympics controversy that spread like wildfire is related to human rights. The latter has been a big problem in every sports event in recent years, especially during the Qatar World Cup 2022. It seems like this is also the case in France.
According to some popular newspapers, people who worked in the preparation for the Olympic Games received close to 80 EUR per day. Moreover, they did not have any resting time, social security, or official declarations. Also, some workers gave interviews where they stated that they did not have the best working conditions.
Additionally, there was a big Paris 2024 Olympics controversy around migrant camps in Paris. The authorities had to take action and remove some of them from certain areas in the city because of the upcoming tournaments. As expected, aid groups stepped in and criticized the government for their action.
#5 Participating of athletes from several countries
As you are aware, there are a lot of things happening around the world, including several armed conflicts. Without going into too much detail, there were multiple conversations around the Summer Olympics 2024 and the participation of athletes from places like Israel, Belarus, Russia, and Afghanistan.
#6 Health Concerns
Due to the ongoing global warming, Paris 2024 will be the hottest Olympic games so far. Since the temperatures will be higher than those in Tokyo in 2021, it’s no surprise that many people are worried about athletes’ health.
There were many different proposals regarding the heat wave and how to deal with it. Some people suggested that the organizers avoid some of the day’s hottest hours and focus on ensuring everyone stays hydrated. It seems like some people don’t think that the authorities in Paris have done everything possible to battle the heat.
#7 Saudi Arabia’s Pavillion
Some countries will take advantage of the Paris 2024 Olympics to promote what they have to offer. Considering Saudi Arabia’s goal to promote tourism, the country decided to build its very own Olympic village. There’s nothing wrong with that, but the Saudis chose Les Invalides, a complex where you can find Napoleon’s tomb.
It’s probably not surprising that this decision caused much controversy in France. There were ongoing negotiations between the Ministry of Armed Forces and the Saudi government, but the two parties did not come to an agreement. As a result, Saudi Arabia’s pavilion will not be located there.
#8 Doping allegations regarding several Chinese swimmers
Almost every big sports event has some sort of doping scandal, and the Paris 2024 Olympics are no exception. One of the biggest scandals related to doping was linked to several Chinese swimmers. According to the NY Times, 23 people from China’s swimming team had positive tests for Trimetazidine several months before the beginning of the 2020 Summer Games.
After this “discovery”, there were a load of back-and-forth allegations about who’s right or wrong. Following numerous discussions, tests, and conferences, 11 out of the 23 Chinese swimmers involved in the doping scandal were added to the country’s Olympic Swimming Team.
#9 Smear campaigns
As mentioned, there are loads of ongoing problems worldwide, and France is or has been involved in some of them. Consequently, certain people from some countries have decided to create smear campaigns against Paris 2024.
According to some authorities, several Azerbaijani websites were involved in such activities. They tried to provide disinformation about the Summer Olympics 2024 and France’s approach to organizing everything.
Aside from some sources in Azerbaijan, it seems like certain media outlets in Russia also have a role in such activities. The Threat Analysis Center from Microsoft released reports saying that there were such campaigns against the 2024 Paris Olympics. According to the information, there were fake news stories, AI Videos, and many other things.
Final Thoughts
Like all big sports events in the last couple of years, the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris had their fair share of controversies. Some are more important and interesting than others, but we can only hope they won’t ruin the tournament.
There’s no arguing that these kinds of events are a lot more than just a way for athletes to show what they’re capable of. Sadly, mixing politics with sports is never fun for people who want to watch the best athletes compete. We hope that Paris 2024 will be an amazing event.
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