Concerns and controversies at the 2024 Summer Olympics

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2024 Summer Olympics

There are various issues that caused concerns and controversies related to the 2024 Summer Olympics, including security concerns,[1] human rights ones, and controversy over allowing Israel to participate amidst the Israel–Hamas war, and allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Domestic issues

The Seine in the opening ceremony

Part of the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics will happen on the Seine, the first time such a ceremony is to be held on a river, something which has led to several concerns.[2][3]

In February 2024, the French government announced that, as a security precaution, the number of spectators for the opening ceremony across the Seine would be reduced from 600,000 to 300,000. This plan was proposed by Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin in 2022.[1] A security perimeter around the area being used for spectator access is planned to be erected in the days ahead of the games, limiting access for the public. The reason for using the Seine, as a public outside space, is to make the opening ceremony accessible to many more people than usual.[2] Tourists and other pedestrians will not be able to watch the ceremony on the Seine; there will be an opportunity to register for free tickets.[3]

Part of the plan to ensure security for public viewing space around the Seine was to remove the bouquinistes – traditional booksellers with distinct riverside boxes – from the banks of Seine. The booksellers strongly campaigned against their boxes being moved, even if they had to be closed, with President Emmanuel Macron eventually ruling that they should not be moved and requesting a different security plan. Macron said that the bouquinistes are part of the city's "living heritage".[4]

Disruption to resident Parisians

Many resident Parisians expressed their concern that the games would disrupt their day-to-day lives. Polls showed that half of residents were planning to leave the city, and three-quarters were worried about transport and security at the games. However, the Head of the Paris Olympics Organising Committee, Tony Estanguet, has stated that the "magical" Olympics would be worth the disruption.[5]

Hijab ban

The French government's secularism laws have been called into question by activists who specifically oppose its ban on wearing hijabs during the Olympics.[6]

French identity in promotional materials

Main article: The Phryges § Reception
See also: 2024 Summer Olympics § Posters

The mascots for the Games are The Phryges, anthropomorphic phrygian caps. Plush toys of the mascots were produced, advertised as French companies. The manufacturing sector of these companies was mostly located in China, however, with the toys being made in China a subject of criticism in France.[7]

The Olympic poster for the Summer Olympics was revealed in March 2024, a surrealist cartoon rendering of Paris with several landmark buildings and symbols of the city and the country. Detractors believe that the poster art has removed symbols of Christianity and French identity. Several right-wing French politicians criticising it for being "woke" and described it as an attempt to "cancel" France's history or being ashamed of having national pride. The largest complaint was that the Dome des Invalides, part of a monument to France's military history, did not include the cross on the top.[8][9]

Elections amid preparations

A month before the Games, the 2024 French legislative election was held on 30 June and 7 July 2024. The election followed the dissolution of the National Assembly by President Emmanuel Macron, who decided to call snap election in the aftermath of the 2024 European Parliament election in France in which the far-right National Rally and the left-wing New Popular Front won huge majorities.[10]

A potential far-right government has been cited as a cause of concern, RN has won a resounding and unprecedented victory in the first round of France's legislative elections, with 33.15% of the vote alongside its conservative allies, the government should not affect the Olympics. Michael Payne, former head of marketing at the IOC, told AFP the level of support politically and around France during the ongoing torch relay suggested "the Olympics themselves are not going to be caught in any political crossfire."[11][12]

Issues relating to Paris hosting

Security concerns

A news report in The Times cited an analysis by Dragonfly, a security and geopolitical firm, by which the level of terror threats for the Paris 2024 Games remains "severe", including the potential use of bombing drone attacks. It was reported that the British Olympic Association will provide an app to athletes and staff, so they can have access to instant help and the ability to share their location with security staff.[13]

The main airports in Paris will be closed on 26 July during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games for security reasons. Security perimeters will be set up around the event venues, strictly restricting the movement of cars, including taxis.[14]

A petty thief, known to Paris police for stealing bags on public transport, stole the bag of a member of Paris Town Hall staff containing some security plans for the Olympic Games; it was later confirmed that no sensitive information was in the bag, with the thief being sentenced to seven months in jail.[15]

Raids of organising headquarters

French financial prosecutors raided Paris 2024 Olympics headquarters on 18 October 2023 and also targeted event management firms. The raids were part of an investigation opened into suspicion of "illegal taking of interest, favoritism and concealment" involved in the awarding of various contracts.[16]

Azerbaijani "smear" campaign

A report from France's external digital interference fighting body uncovered that several Azerbaijani websites and fake social media profiles attempted a disinformation campaign, downplaying the French's ability to organize the games and threatening a boycott.[17] The smear campaign is believed to be in retaliation for French military support of Armenia since 2020 following the outbreak of conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Russian "smear" campaigns

Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center reported that Russia conducted a disinformation campaign targeting the 2024 Paris Olympics in retaliation for French military support of Ukraine amidst their war against Russia. Using fake videos, news stories, and AI-generated impersonations, including Tom Cruise's voice, Russian cyber-actor groups Storm-1679 and Doppelganger aimed to tarnish the reputation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and incite fears of violence. They released a fake documentary titled "Olympics Has Fallen" and spread false claims of terrorism-related ticket cancellations and insurance purchases. Doppelganger also intensified anti-Olympics messaging and forged content to smear Emmanuel Macron. Microsoft suspected these groups circulated fake graffiti images threatening a repeat of the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre.[18]

Human rights concerns

Exploitation of workers' rights

French newspaper Libération reported that workers were being paid around €80 ($86.7) per day without any official declaration, social security, or resting day. Some workers expressed anger and dissatisfaction as they never receive the salary guaranteed on the contract, while some said that there are no proper safety materials for them when doing high risk jobs.[19]

Forceful eviction of migrant camps

In April, migrants from several makeshift camps in Paris were evicted forcefully from their homes, in what aid groups have called a campaign of "social cleansing" ahead of the Summer Olympics.[20]

Inclusion of nations involved in wars

Participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes

Potential for neutral athletes

See also: Individual Neutral Athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics

The potential participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes has remained controversial amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended sports federations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from participating in international tournaments, citing the violation of the Olympic Truce.[21]

In January 2023, the IOC announced plans to introduce Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals. On 26 January 2023, The Olympic Council of Asia invited Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, under a neutral flag and without possibility to win medals and win Asian quota places on Olympic Games.[22] The IOC also published a statement stating that it supported the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes, as long as they did not "actively" support the war and as long as their flag, anthem, colours, and organizations were excluded (thus preventing them from competing under the Russian Olympic Committee as in Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022). The IOC also compared the situation to the Independent Olympic Participants at the 1992 Summer Olympics.[23]

On 1 February 2023, the United Nations released a report, commending the IOC for considering reinstating Russian and Belarusian athletes, and urged IOC to make sure that "no athlete should be required to take sides in the conflict", basing it on "international human rights standards on non-discrimination."[24]

On 31 January 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sport must make a concrete decision on whether Russian athletes will participate in the 2024 Olympics.[25][26] In the end, the country's leadership stated that Russia would not boycott the Games, leaving decisions to individual federations. However, none of the Russian broadcasters purchased Olympic TV rights, the first such case since 1984.[27][28]

Threatened boycotts from other nations

On 3 February 2023, the National Olympic and Paralympic Committees of the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) issued a joint statement opposing the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[29][30] Countries which had then threatened a boycott included Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine.[31][32]

That month, the IOC president, Thomas Bach, stated that it should not be up to national governments to decide who gets to participate in international sporting tournaments.[33] On 22 March 2023, Bach further reiterated his support for reinstating Russian and Belarusian athletes, opposing "any suggestion that Russians should be treated as if they have collective guilt".[34]

Sporting federations' recognition of athletes

On 10 March 2023, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) became the first Olympic governing body to officially reinstate Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, in time for the start of the qualification for the 2024 Games.[35] Protesting this decision, Denmark,[36] France,[37] Germany,[38] and Poland[39] cancelled upcoming World Cup fencing events to prevent Russians and Belarusians from participating. In April 2023, it was revealed that the European Fencing Confederation had sent a critical letter to the FIE, outlining their opposition to the FIE's plans to strip the countries, that had indicated they would not grant visas to Russians and Belarusians, from hosting rights and impose sanctions on them.[40]

As of May 2023, after the International Canoe Federation (ICF) reinstated Russian and Belarusian athletes, the number of summer sport international federations to do so had risen to 10.[41]

ROC suspension

In October 2023, the IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), which had previously sent independent Russian athletes to the Olympic Games, due to violations of the Olympic Charter – specifically, for incorporating Ukrainian sporting bodies from annexed Ukrainian territory into the Russian body, and so violating the integrity of the Ukraine Olympic Committee.[42] Russia challenged this in the Court of Arbitration for Sport; in February 2024 the appeal was declined. This worsened tensions between the IOC and ROC, with Thomas Bach saying in March 2024 that Russia only has itself to blame, also using strong words to criticise the tone used by Russian politicians and the systemic doping of athletes by the Russian state.[27]

Participation of Israeli athletes

Main article: Israel at the 2024 Summer Olympics

The participation of Israeli athletes became a point of contention following the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war. The IOC warned Arab and pro-Palestinian athletes that they would be banned from participating if they refuse to compete with Israeli athletes,[43] recalling the case of Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine, who was suspended for 10 years by the International Judo Federation for refusing to fight Israeli athlete Tohar Butbul during the 2020 Summer Olympics.[44] An IOC spokesman stated that "The IOC is committed to the concept of individual responsibility and athletes cannot be held responsible for the actions of their governments," adding that the IOC will "ensure that swift action is taken, as during the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020."[45][46]

Palestinian sports organizations and sports organizations from Arab countries have called for sanctions to be imposed against Israel and to prevent its participation in the 2024 Summer Olympics due to the war. The calls from the organizations have been prompted by concerns about the war's impact on Palestinian athletes and sports facilities.[47][48] The calls have come with comparisons to Russia and Belarus, who were banned following the former's invasion of Ukraine and whose participants were only allowed under the Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) label.

In February, 26 left-wing French politicians and lawmakers sent a letter to the IOC, urging sanctions against Israel, and calling for a ban on Israeli athletes competing under their flag and anthem. The lawmakers cited Israel's alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip as the reason for their stance. They proposed that Israeli athletes participate neutrally, similar to Russian and Belarusian athletes, during the Games.[49][50]

In January 2024, over 300 Palestinian sports clubs called for Israel to be barred from the 2024 Olympics after Israeli airstrikes had killed Palestine's Olympic football team coach, and damaged the headquarters of the Palestine Olympic Committee in Gaza.[51]

In March 2024, IOC President Thomas Bach stated that there was no issue regarding Israel participating at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[52] Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo stated, "Sanctioning Israel in relation to the Olympic and Paralympic Games is out of the question because Israel is a democracy."[53]

There was also concern expressed for the Israel Olympic football team, who may have to play in stadiums around France and stay outside the high-security Olympic village. The organisers confirmed that, since the Munich massacre, there have always been special measures to make Israeli delegations feel comfortable.[27]

In May 2024, Israel disallowed its wrestling delegation from traveling to a qualifying event in Turkey due to alleged security concerns, therefore disqualifying the delegation from the 2024 Olympics. Approximately one week earlier, Turkey had barred all imports and exports from Israel.[54]

The Israeli Olympic officials are expecting the possibility of protests, booing, as well as the potential for some athletes or teams refusing to play against Israel.[55]

Double standard accusations against the IOC

In November 2023, Russia accused the IOC of having double standards by not sanctioning Israel due to its military actions in Gaza, as Palestine is also an IOC member. The IOC's response to the comparisons to Russia was that the recommendations adopted on Russia and Belarus resulted from the violation of the Olympic Truce that was in force at the time, Russia's violation of the Olympic Charter following their annexation of four Ukrainian Olympic councils, and Russia's two previous violations in 2008 and 2014.[56][57] American academic and former professional soccer player Jules Boykoff described the double standards as "glaring" and questioned the IOC's treatment of Israel compared to Russia stating, "If taking over sports facilities are a red line, why silence as Israel converts Gaza’s historic Yarmouk Stadium into an internment camp?".[58] Boykoff has also stated that Israel's various settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights "would be in clear violation [of the Olympic charter] in the same way as what Russia has done".[59]

Participation of Afghan athletes

Main article: Afghanistan at the 2024 Summer Olympics

Afghanistan's participation in the 2024 Summer Olympics has become uncertain after falling under Taliban control in August 2021.[60] The Taliban has banned women from playing sports since retaking Afghanistan in August 2021.[61] Friba Razayee, the first female judoka in Afghanistan's history to participate in the 2004 Summer Olympics, has called on the International Olympic Committee to ban Afghanistan from participating in the 2024 Summer Olympics, the first ban for the country since 1999 during the first Taliban takeover of the country.[62] In this regard, the IOC Executive Board announced that it would allow Afghanistan to send a mixed-gender team to the 2024 Summer Olympics.[63][64] The International Olympic Committee said Afghanistan would field a gender-balanced team at the 2024 Summer Olympics and that Taliban government officials will not be allowed to attend. The team size is 3 men and 3 women.[65][66][67]

Environmental concerns

The Paris Olympics have been widely touted as being environmentally sustainable, with some members of the organising committee claiming the Games will be the "greenest" ever held.[68][69]

Judging tower for surfing in Tahiti

Organisers plan to host the surfing competitions in the French Polynesian island of Tahiti, where they plan to build a nine-ton aluminium tower for the judges. Harsh criticism was drawn from locals and surfers, saying that it threatened damage to the coral reef and that the currently existing wooden tower could be used. A barge struck the reef and damaged it earlier in 2023, which caused construction to be paused. Multiple surfers have protested against the building of it and a local petition against building it gathered 239,000 responses.[70][71]

Paris bedbug infestation

The 2023 Paris bedbug infestation caused concerns amongst locals and government officials about the heavy influx of visitors to the city and the risk of another outbreak during the Olympics.[72][73]

Temperature concerns

Air conditioning units in the Olympic Village

Despite the Olympic Village accommodation intending to be environmentally friendly, the water-based geothermal cooling system planned for use was rejected by several National Olympic Committees as ineffective. The organisers said that the system, paired with the "passive building design", would keep the accommodation 6ºC cooler than the outside temperature; the NOCs did not dispute this, but said that this would not be sufficient with the forecast high temperatures.[74][75] NOCs including the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Australia, have announced that they will be providing their athletes with air conditioning units to help them withstand the heatwave for use in their accommodation.[76][74] A move initially perceived as undermining the environment messaging of the hosts,[76] at the start of July 2024, the organising committee began offering air conditioning unit rentals to NOCs for an extra fee.[74]

Health concerns for participants

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are set to be the hottest on record, an increase on the previous Games in Tokyo, during which athletes had already expressed health concerns. In June 2024, a report titled "Rings of Fire: Heat Risks at the 2024 Paris Olympics" documented concerns, and the IOC proposed mitigation measures. Athletes set to compete in 2024 continued to express concerns about the risks of competing in athletics in extreme temperatures, and also of the normality of extreme temperatures. Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, emphasised that heatwaves would pose a risk to athletes' sleep and training, and for heat-related illness and injury while competing.[77] Proposals to mitigate the heat include rescheduling events to avoid the hottest times of day, and to improve athletes' rehydration and cooling plans.[78][79]

Water pollution of the Seine and uncertain role in the wider Games

The Seine is planned as the site of two Olympic events: open-water (marathon) swimming and the swimming leg of the triathlon. It had been used for swimming events at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, but swimming in it has been banned since 1923 due to unsafe bacteria.[80][81] However, the river has consistently failed mandated testings for bacterial levels,[82][83] with many concerned that athletes could become ill if they swim in the river.[84] Ahead of the Games, with planning since 2015, a dedicated clean-up operation costing $1.5 billion took place to make the Seine safe to swim in. Test events in 2023 had to be cancelled due to a sewer problem creating unsafe water, and heavy rainfall in the spring of 2024 sending polluted overflow into the river was also a cause for concern.[85][80][81] The operation involved an overhaul of the Seine's infrastructure – with "new underground pumps, pipes and tanks" installed to collect spillover wastewater and prevent it going into the river – as well as improving sewage treatment plants in the city and requiring moored boats to use the sewage network for their wastewater drainage.[86]

Despite the repeated test failures, organisers continued to insist that the Seine would be used, and safe to use, for the events.[87][85] In mid-July, they did concede that there were contingency plans in place, with the first option being to postpone the Seine-based events to later in the calendar of the Games. If that became unfeasible, the marathon swim would be relocated to Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, where rowing and canoeing are planned to take place, and the triathlon would have the swimming leg removed to become a duathlon.[88] 220Triathlon Magazine said that cancelling the swim "would feel unconscionable".[85]

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and president Macron both vowed to swim in the Seine prior to the Games to prove that the extensive clean-up operation worked. A late June date for this swim was postponed;[84] the primary reason cited was the concurrent French general election but reports also circulated that protestors had planned a mass defecation event to coincide with the swim.[89] On 12 July, two weeks before the start of the Olympics, the Paris City Hall announced that the Seine had been clean enough for the majority of twelve days, also noting that the bacteria (including E.Coli) levels in a designated spot in central Paris had fallen within acceptable limits for four consecutive days.[90][91] On 13 July, Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra briefly swam near Pont Alexandre III for a television crew from BFM TV,[92] and Hidalgo, along with Tony Estanguet and Marc Guillaume, swam in the Seine near Hôtel de Ville on 17 July.[93][81]

Controversies during Olympic qualifications and selections

Disqualification and reinstatement of Ukrainian fencer

In July 2020 (and reconfirmed in September 2020, January 2021 and September 2021) by public written notice, the FIE had replaced its previous handshake requirement with a "salute" by the opposing fencers, and written in its public notice that handshakes were "suspended until further notice."[94][95][96][97] Nevertheless, in July 2023 Ukrainian four-time world fencing individual sabre champion Olga Kharlan was disqualified at the World Fencing Championships by the FIE for not shaking the hand of her defeated Russian opponent, though Kharlan instead offered a tapping of blades in acknowledgement.[98][99] The next day, the IOC president Thomas Bach sent a letter to Kharlan, where he expressed empathy for her and that in light of the situation, she was being guaranteed a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics.[100][101][102]

Great Britain women's football qualifying group

Main article: Football at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's qualification § Great Britain qualifying controversy

The British Home Nations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) compete in association football individually, but field a combined Great Britain women's Olympic football team.[a] Qualifying events are still played separately, with England representing Great Britain. The European qualification tournament for the 2024 Summer Olympics saw England have to play fellow Home Nation Scotland to qualify, with Great Britain's qualification ultimately coming down to England needing to score as many goals as possible against Scotland in the last group match. The system allowing this scenario to happen was heavily criticised, and there were some suggestions that Scotland may throw the match as this would allow them (as part of Great Britain) to have a chance to qualify. England won the match 6–0 but Great Britain did not qualify.[103][104][105]

Great Britain triathlon selection

Great Britain is one of the most successful nations in Olympic triathlon, including at least one gold medal at every Games since they hosted in 2012. Their selection process is described as "the toughest selection criteria in the world".[106] For the 2024 Games, British Triathlon awarded automatic spots to triathletes who earned automatic qualification by the end of September 2023 (thus needing to, at least, win the Olympic test events), with the remaining quota being filled by internally-selected triathletes based on complex criteria. The process was criticised by Tim Heming of 220Triathlon Magazine, who said that the remaining triathletes having to "prove their worth" in 2024, rather than preparing for the Olympic Games, was unnecessarily disruptive.[106] When Sophie Coldwell was left out of the team, despite placing higher in the final event than Kate Waugh, she appealed the decision; the appeal was upheld, with the panel re-assessing before coming to the same decision in June. Heming opined that if the last race was not going to be a decider, the panel should have selected Waugh earlier to give everyone time to prepare.[106]

Dutch selection of convicted child rapist

Main article: Steven van de Velde § Child rape

The Dutch Olympic Committee, NOC*NSF, selected Steven van de Velde to represent them in beach volleyball. Van de Velde pleaded guilty in 2016 to three counts of raping a 12-year-old child in the United Kingdom. The British judge said that he should not be able to continue his Olympic ambitions.[107][108][109] He had initially fled to the Netherlands after the rapes, which took place in 2014, before being extradited back to the UK in 2016.[110]

When asked about the decision to select van de Velde, Michel Everaert, the head of Nederlandse Volleybalbond (NeVoBo; Dutch Volleyball Federation), said that "[van de Velde] was convicted at the time according to English law and he has served his sentence. [...He] has now been fully reintegrated into the Dutch volleyball community" and "[is] an exemplary professional and human being".[111] Sentenced on 21 March 2016 to four years in prison,[112] he was transferred to the Netherlands due to an extradition treaty, where he was re-sentenced under Dutch law[113] and subsequently released on 17 March 2017. Comments he made upon his release were criticised by British child protection charity NSPCC as showing no remorse and being full of self-pity.[114][109]

In June 2024, NeVoBo described the conviction as a "black period" and said that van de Velde was "obviously not happy" about it being brought up ahead of his appearance at the Olympics.[111] NeVoBo said that they have a professionally-guided process for convicted criminals to partake in sport, and that van de Velde met all their conditions, and all guidelines for Olympic participation.[108] The IOC refused to comment.[111] There was significant criticism directed at NOC*NSF for the selection. Advisors on safety in sport said the selection and the Dutch nonchalance was concerning, and that van de Velde's participation "sends a dangerous message that medals and money mean more than [the] safety [of minors in sports]."[111] A nonprofit that supports survivors of sexual abuse criticised Dutch sports media for a lack of attention on van de Velde, especially when compared to how much the same media reported on inconsequential news, like footballer Memphis Depay's choice of headwear.[115]

The British Olympic Association "raised serious concerns" when van de Velde was confirmed,[116][117] with the Dutch Olympic Committee facing international criticism.[118][119] In a statement on their website, NeVoBo criticised English media for "rekindl[ing] the past".[115] A petition on the online platform Change.org calls for the convicted athlete to be disqualified from the Paris Games. The petition has been signed more than 20,000 times as of 4 July.[120] On 17 July, NOC*NSF said that van de Velde would not stay in the Olympic Village but be provided alternate accommodation and security elsewhere. In the statement, the NOC*NSF stated that it regretted "the impact of the unforeseen renewed attention to anyone facing trauma from sexual offences and cross-border behaviour."[121]

French selection of Wilfried Happio

French hurdler Wilfried Happio was accused of domestic violence in 2020 and of sexual assault in 2022, being arrested for the latter;[122] both charges were dismissed in court.[123] Happio was selected to the French team for the 2024 Games and became one of the faces of its promotion. In July 2024, there were further allegations of domestic violence made about him, dating to 2018 and 2019.[124] Following the allegations, the French Athletics Federation (FFA) reported Happio to the public prosecutor, and announced that they would hold an internal investigation but that Happio was presumed innocent and still part of the French team. The Ministry of Sports and Olympics said that they would investigate alleged incidents that took place at Happio's residence at INSEP. A statement from Happio made through his lawyer denied the allegations and said he regretted the timing of them, as he needed peace to prepare for the Olympics.[125][123]

Shoko Miyata smoking controversy and deselection

On 17 July 2024, it was reported that Shoko Miyata, the captain of Japan's women's gymnastics team, had been sent home from the national training camp in Monaco after allegedly being seen smoking.[126][127] Miyata is 19 years old and Japan prohibits smoking for those under the age of 20. Miyata subsequently withdrew from the Olympic squad after arriving back in Japan on 18 July.[128]

Dutch golf selection controversy

On 17 June, the final qualification list for the men's golf event was announced. While Joost Luiten, ranked No. 40 in Olympic qualifying and No. 147 in the Official World Golf Ranking, was eligible for the event, the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF) declined to submit his name. The reason given was that Luiten, along with Darius van Driel and Dewi Weber, were not ranked highly enough to be considered a realistic medal contender.[129] Per a criteria change in late 2023, male Dutch golfers would have to finish in the top 27 in ranking to be considered eligible by the NOC*NSF. Luiten challenged the ruling in court, with a Dutch judge ordering that Luiten be added to the 60-man Olympic field. However, the IOC declined to expand the field to 61 golfers (Luiten's place in the event had already been re-allocated on June 28, four days before the NOC*NSF re-submitted Luiten's name in compliance with the court ruling).[130] On 13 July, Luiten was named an Olympic alternate for the 60-man field.[131]

Absence of Richard Carapaz

In May 2024, it was announced that Jhonatan Narváez would take the sole road cycling quota place for Ecuador, meaning that defending road race gold medalist Richard Carapaz would miss the Olympics.[132] While Carapaz publicly congratulated Narváez, he also claimed in several interviews that the Ecuador Cycling Federation had favored Narváez and ensured that he would represent the nation. The federation came out with a number of statements denying Carapaz's allegations.[133]

Others

Saudi Arabia pavilion

Many NOCs build "Olympic villages", like exhibition pavilions, in the host city as places for national promotion and for their country's fans to gather. The Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee wanted to build an Olympic village at the site of Les Invalides, a historic military complex and the location of Napoleon's tomb, drawing criticism in France. The Ministry of Armed Forces held discussions with Saudi Arabia, causing consternation in government, with a French politician saying that the site is "not for sale". Saudi Arabia reportedly wanted to secure the location to give itself prominence at the Games, as part of its wider policy of improving its international image through sports. While the Ministry of Armed Forces did negotiate use of the site with Saudi Arabia, they wanted to set very strict conditions, which the Saudis did not agree to; France denied them use of Les Invalides.[9][134][135][136]

Chinese swimmers doping allegations

See also: World Anti-Doping Agency § Chinese doping allegations

On 20 April 2024, The New York Times revealed that 23 members of the Chinese swimming team tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug called Trimetazidine seven months prior to the start of the 2020 Summer Games and were allowed to participate in the games with some of the swimmers winning medals. Following the publication of the report, Travis Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, accused the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) of covering up doping by Chinese swimmers.[137][138]

WADA argued the amount detected was too low to enhance performance. CHINADA, who had reported the results to WADA and FINA (now World Aquatics), blamed them on contamination from a hotel kitchen, a rationale that potentially exempts findings from being made public.[139] WADA released a statement, explaining that "[it] was not possible for WADA scientists or investigators to conduct their enquiries on the ground in China given the extreme restrictions in place due to a COVID-related lockdown. WADA ultimately concluded that it was not in a position to disprove the possibility that contamination was the source of TMZ and it was compatible with the analytical data in the file."[140] World Aquatics's investigation agreed with WADA.[141]

After the story was leaked, WADA was criticised by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and athletes. WADA's choice of a Swiss attorney to lead an investigation into the matter also drew criticism because he was hand-picked by the agency.[142] Experts interviewed by The New York Times said trace amounts of TMZ can be detected near the end of a doping excretion period but could not rule out contamination either.[143]

In a second statement, Tygart accused both World Anti-Doping Agency and the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency for not being transparent about the findings and keeping "clean athletes in the dark". WADA was also accused of having a double-standard as Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for TMZ and used the same excuse, but was subsequently banned for four years. WADA argued, based on non-published information and pharmacokinetics, that contamination would not have been possible in Valieva's case, but in the case of the Chinese swimmers, that no international competition was occurring around the time of the positive tests, only athletes who stayed at one of the hotels tested positive, and some individuals alternated between positive and negative results all point to contamination, not doping.[144][145] In May 2024, WADA announced that it hold an extraordinary meeting to discuss the doping case of the Chinese swimmers.[146][147]

Eleven of the 23 swimmers involved in the controversy were named to the 2024 Chinese Olympic swimming team.[148]

Bruce Mwape alleged sexual misconduct investigation

In 2022, an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by Bruce Mwape, the coach of the Zambia women's national football team, began; it was still ongoing at the time of the 2024 Games, having previously caused controversy at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, with further reports of misconduct in 2023 towards players and female staff. At the time of the 2023 World Cup, the IOC said that it "will be following the outcome of this case closely, for ­consideration with respect to the Olympic Games".[149][150] Mwape struggled to obtain a travel visa as people accused of sexual crimes are not allowed visas under French law, but was eventually granted one, under strict conditions that include not having any private contact with the players. The visa was granted after the Football Association of Zambia told French officials it was too late to replace their coach and agreed a safeguarding plan with the IOC and FIFA.[150]

Notes

  1. ^ Great Britain elects not to attempt to qualify a men's team, with certain historic exceptions.

References

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