July 24th 2024.
The lead up to the Paris 2024 Olympics has been anything but smooth. Scheduled to officially begin on Friday night, the world-renowned event has already been plagued by a series of scandals and controversies. From athletes being banned to political controversies and environmental concerns, the preparations for the Games have been far from ordinary. And while organizers are hoping to resolve some of these issues before the opening ceremony, it seems that some will continue to dominate headlines over the next two-and-a-half weeks.
Without further ado, here is a comprehensive list of the scandals that have rocked Paris 2024 so far:
- Charlotte Dujardin, one of Britain's most decorated female Olympians, was forced to withdraw from the Games after a video surfaced of her repeatedly whipping a horse during a coaching session four years ago. The 39-year-old has been banned for six months by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports and has issued a statement expressing her regret and shame over the incident. This scandal has sparked a larger conversation about the treatment of animals in sports.
- The Netherlands has come under fire for selecting convicted rapist Steven van de Velde for their volleyball team. The 29-year-old was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old girl when he was 19. His selection has caused outrage, especially after his teammates and team boss defended him, leading to even more controversy.
- The French team has imposed a ban on their own competitors from wearing the hijab, despite the International Olympic Committee allowing it. This decision has been condemned by Amnesty International as "racist gender discrimination." In addition, a French MP stated that Israeli athletes are not welcome in Paris due to the ongoing war in Gaza, which has sparked further tension. In response, Adidas pulled an advertisement featuring Bella Hadid that referenced the 1972 Munich Olympics where 11 Israeli athletes were killed in a terrorist attack.
- Two staff members from Canada's women's football team were fired for using a drone to film the training sessions of their opponents, New Zealand, ahead of their match.
- The French government has spent €1.4billion to clean up the Seine river, where the triathlon and marathon swimming events will take place. The river has been deemed illegal to swim in for the past century due to high pollution levels. While organizers are confident that the water is now safe, recent water quality tests for E. coli have failed, raising concerns.
- The Olympic village was built with eco-friendly water pumps instead of air conditioning units in an effort to make Paris 2024 the greenest games in history. However, with temperatures expected to surpass 30C, several delegations, including Team GB, have had to rent their own AC units to stay cool.
- Earlier this year, it was revealed that 23 Chinese swimmers, 11 of whom will compete in Paris, tested positive for the banned substance TMZ before the last games in Tokyo. While they were allowed to compete, the World Anti-Doping Agency's handling of the investigation and decision to keep it private for three years has been heavily criticized.
Despite these scandals, the organizers of Paris 2024 are still hoping for a successful and memorable event. Let's hope that these issues can be resolved and that the focus can shift back to the incredible athletes and their achievements. Stay tuned for updates on all the latest news and juicy stories from Metro, and don't forget to join our community on Whatsapp for breaking news. The Paris 2024 Olympics may have had a rocky start, but there is still plenty to look forward to in the next two-and-a-half weeks.
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