Paris Olympics 2024: Scandals that Stole the Spotlight
Paris Olympics 2024 began amid a series of contentious issues and spanned 19 days as the entire world questioned its success. Here are some of the instances that shook the global sporting event.
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Sports fans might agree that the Paris Olympics, which concluded on August 12 this year, could be considered one of the most controversial sporting events in history. The event began amid a series of contentious issues and spanned 19 days as the entire world questioned its success. Here are some of the instances that shook the Paris Olympics 2024.
Opening Ceremony hurt religious sentiments
The global sporting event began with heavy backlash from around the world offending religious sentiments, as the opening ceremony included a performance that was said to resemble Leonardo da Vinci’s depiction of the Biblical scene “The Last Supper.” Although the event’s organizers denied that the performance was inspired by this artwork, church leaders and conservative politicians identified it as a mockery of Christianity.
Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification on her day of gold medal match
In a heartbreak for India and Vinesh Phogat, the Indian wreslter was disqualified. Phogat who participated in the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling had already scripted history when she assured India of at least a silver. However, in a disappointing turn of events, Phogat was disqualified for being 100 grams over the weight limit on the day of her final clash. The wrestler filed a plea with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), and saw the CAS reject her decision of a joint silver medal.
Algeria’s Imane Khalif gender row
One of the most talked-controversy was gender row surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khalif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting. The two, who later went on to clinch gold medals in their respective categories, were accused of being ‘male’. The two were containing XY chromosomes in their bodies which made them face a barrage of accusations on social media. Notably, the two had been disqualified from the 2023 Boxing World Championships but were allowed by the IOC to compete in the Olympics.
USA gymnast Jordan Chiles stripped of bronze medal
The US gymnast Jordan Chiles was stripped of her first individual Olympic medal bronze medal after the Romanian gymnastics team challenged her final score. Her coach Cecile Landi had submitted an enquiry to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to add 0.1 points to Chiles' score after she finished fifth in the eight-woman final. The appeal was granted, and Chiles moved on to the podium, bumping Romania's Anu Barbosu out of medal contention. However, Romania protested the decision to the CAS, arguing that the appeal was not made within the permitted one-minute time frame of when Chiles’ score was first posted. The appeal was successful, and on Friday, Barbosu was awarded the bronze medal.
Egyptian wrestler Mohamed Elsayed arrested for sexual assault
Mohamed Elsayed, an Egyptian Olympic wrestler, was arrested by French police on suspicion of sexual assault in the early hours of Friday outside a cafe in the French capital, according to the Paris prosecutor's office. The wrestler was arrested for allegedly groping another customer's buttocks at the cafe, according to prosecutors. After the incident, the Egyptian Olympic Committee announced that the wrestler would face a disciplinary hearing. If the charges are proven to be correct, then he could face severe consequences including a lifetime ban from the quadrennial tournament.