One month before the Olympic and Paralympic Games (JOP), the Palestinians have made it known that they do not want the presence of Israeli athletes in Paris. “We hope that the Olympic movement will exclude Israel”declared, Monday June 24, the president of the Palestinian National Olympic Committee (NOC), Jibril Rajoub in an interview presented as exclusive by the German public channel Deutsche Welle.
This is the first time that such a request has been made. On June 12, during a press conference in Ramallah, Mr. Rajoub, who also chairs the Palestinian Football Federation, argued that “Israelis have lost the right, morally and legally, to participate [aux Jeux] as long as they continue to commit crimes.” He had not explicitly called for exclusion or participation under neutral status, as is the case for Russian athletes due to the war in Ukraine.
Asked about the Palestinian NOC’s declaration, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which alone can take the decision to ban or impose neutrality on a delegation, has not responded for the moment. According to Deutsche Wellethe IOC refers to a statement published on June 18 after a telephone conversation between its president, Thomas Bach, and Mr. Rajoub: it simply states that Mr. Bach has given his support to the Palestinian athletes. The IOC’s position has not changed since March, when the body declared that it was not considering sanctions against Israel.
The change in the Palestinian position has in any case been noted by the French authorities. “We saw yesterday the Palestinian National Olympic Committee call for the banning of Israeli athletes”declared, Wednesday June 26, the Minister of Sports and JOPs, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra on the BFM-TV set.
Until now, when questioned about the war between Israel and Hamas, and the possibility that, for example, a principle of neutrality could be imposed on Israeli athletes, the public authorities responded that the two situations would not have ” nothing to see “. In support, they also argued that the Palestinian and Israeli national Olympic committees “had not requested the exclusion of each other”.
Asked to explain how France received the Palestinian request, the Ministry of Sports and JOPs did not wish to comment. No more than the Organizing Committee for the Paris 2024 Games, which refers to the IOC, noting that a national Olympic committee cannot decide who participates in the Games.
If Ms. Oudéa-Castéra mentioned the request from the Palestinian NOC on Wednesday, it was to illustrate her reasons for concern regarding the “successful running of the Games” according to the results of the legislative elections on July 7. “There will be a whole series of political decisions to be taken during the Games, in particular to prevent risks from becoming crises, to manage diplomatic tensions,” she explained, highlighting the Israeli-Palestinian issue in this regard.
Our selection of articles on the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Find all our content on the Olympic and Paralympic Games:
93% of private security personnel needs covered, no call to the army planned, according to public authorities
The State increases its support for private security by “around ten million euros” to help it recruit
Exemption, QR code: what the site will contain to be able to travel during the Paris Olympics
Deployment of anti-drone warfare for the Games amid uncertainties over the system’s effectiveness
The security perimeters of the opening ceremony in detail
Cyberattacks, scams and disinformation, the online threats weighing on the Paris Olympic Games
Practical questions about traveling in Paris, on foot, by metro, by car…
Should we fear the worst in transport in Ile-de-France?
Transport during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris: from the euphoria of promises to the shock of reality
These places in the capital that are getting into Olympic time
How Paris La Défense Arena became an Olympic swimming pool for the Games
Two projects for the Olympic Games are still being followed “very, very closely”
The Paris 2024 Olympic Village takes up residence in Seine-Saint-Denis
A logistical time trial at the Olympic Village for the Organizing Committee
Bernard Thibault: “For the 2024 Games, our objective is to demonstrate that major events are not incompatible with high social rights
- The opening ceremony
With director Thomas Jolly, behind the scenes of the dance show during the Olympic ceremonies
Final technical rehearsals for the opening nautical parade of the Games
- Preparation of athletes
Enzo Lefort, jack-of-all-trades foilist
European Championships: in Rome, French athletics regains color before the Olympic Games
Kevin Mayer’s inner journey towards Paris 2024
The transformation of heptathlete Auriana Lazraq-Khlass, silver medalist at the European Championships, by “exploding” her records
Cyréna Samba-Mayela, always faster, offers herself a European coronation and a new status before Paris 2024
“The Games are no longer won, but they can be lost”: injury, haunting athletes before Paris 2024
At the Lucerne Rowing World Cup, France measures the distance it still has to cover to be competitive at the Games
French fencing is reassured two months before the Paris 2024 Games
Swimmer Léon Marchand, France’s greatest chance of medals
- The question of the presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes
Russian and Belarusian athletes admitted to the Games go beyond the neutrality framework, according to Ukrainian authorities
“At the Paris Olympic Games, an overview of the global balance of power”
Twins Maryna and Vladyslava Aleksiiva, synchronized swimming prodigies, want to “show the fighting face of Ukraine”
In Russia, the sports movement is torn apart over its participation in the Olympics
“All the ingredients come together to replay an episode in the long history of Olympic boycotts”
Thomas Bach, President of the IOC: “The aggressiveness of the Russian government is growing day by day, against the Committee, against the Games, against me”
Paris City Hall wants to favor “working class neighborhoods” for the opening ceremony
The popular ticket office of the State and local authorities faces the challenge of logistics
The government is struggling to distribute its free tickets to people with disabilities
Money not spent on Olympic projects will return to the pockets of public financiers
The State will not grant a financial extension to the CNOSF for its Club France during the Games
The Organizing Committee ensures that it has completed more than 90% of its revenue budget
Tony Estanguet confirms that there have been salary increases at the management of the Games Organizing Committee
In search of savings, the organizers of the Games are seeking help from partner communities
- Ongoing legal investigations
Tony Estanguet, the boss of the Games, in his turn in the sights of justice
The “four musketeers” of the organizing committee targeted by the PNF
- The Olympic Torch Relay
Despite the popular success of the torch relay, why do the French still not support the Olympic Games?
Some municipalities are irritated by the requirements and costs linked to hosting the torch relay
The French strategy to stock up on medals at the Paralympic Games
The government steps on the accelerator to close the accessibility gap
- Seine-Saint-Denis and the Games
Residents worry about the risk of gentrification in Saint-Denis
Seine-Saint-Denis launches its Cultural Olympiad
At the Arthur-Rimbaud vocational high school in La Courneuve, an “JO option” against dropping out of school
The Olympic aquatic center, an XXL swimming pool for Seine-Saint-Denis
La Courneuve between enthusiasm and concern regarding the transformation of Georges-Valbon Park
The Red Star Rugby of Saint-Ouen deprived of a stadium because of the Games
An island, an eco-friendly mayor and “the chance” to benefit from the Games
- Paris at Games time
Anne Hidalgo announces that she will swim in the Seine the week of July 15
Why supplying the capital will be a challenge
After the requisition of their accommodation, students not yet sure of their fate
As the Games approach, associations fighting against poverty fear “social cleansing”
Enthusiastic inauguration for the Adidas Arena, the new venue at Porte de la Chapelle
- The Games are not just Paris and Seine-Saint-Denis
Popular success for the debut of the Olympic torch relay
In Marseille, politicians compete for the Olympic light
The northern districts of Marseille, so close, so far from the Games
The arrival of the Olympic flame for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games “could not happen anywhere other than in Marseille”
At D-55, the Meuse tries to mobilize its inhabitants before the passage of the Olympic flame
In Martinique and Guadeloupe, Olympic fever rises remotely
- Environmental issues
The water quality of the Seine is not “not there”
Games climate target will not be met due to air travel, independent report says
Is Paris 2024 on the right track to fulfill its commitment to “More Responsible Games”?
The risks of a scorching summer raise fears of a suffocating Olympic Games
Halving the carbon footprint of meals served at the Games: the other challenge of Paris 2024
How the organizers of the Olympic Games plan to deal with a heatwave this summer
- The societal issues that the Games highlight
Persistent recruitment difficulties less than three months before the Olympic Games
The State launches a Games accessibility guide for people with disabilities
The anti-Olympics struggle to mobilize
Far from the splendor of the Olympics, the reality of PE lessons in a Montreuil college
At the time of sport, a major national cause, the worrying situation of swimming pools in France
School sport is still looking for the right formula
Contribute
Reuse this content
The contributions area is reserved for subscribers.
Subscribe to access this exchange space and contribute to the discussion.