According to the French sports newspaper L’EQUIPE, a group of fans protesting Israel for its attacks on Gaza during the match between Israel and Paraguay at the Parc des Princes Stadium yesterday in the Men’s Group D of the Olympics was met with a reaction.
The French Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (COJOP) has filed a complaint against fans who protested against Israel by waving Palestinian flags and holding a banner reading “Genocide Olympics” during the match, accusing them of “anti-Semitic” activity.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that an investigation had been opened into the incident. During the match, a group of fans held up a banner reading “Genocide Olympics” to protest Israel’s continued attacks on Gaza and its ban from the Olympics. Stadium officials quickly intervened with the fans and removed the banner.
Before the Olympics, voices were raised in the international community that Israel should be boycotted, just as Russia was, and that Israel should be banned from the Olympic competitions and that the Israeli flag should not be displayed in any competitions.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is responsible for organizing the Olympics, did not decide to ban Israel, and French President Emmanuel Macron commented that Israel could not be subject to sanctions like those imposed on Russia, arguing that the Russia- Ukraine War and Israel’s attacks on Gaza were very different situations.
Macron had argued that Israeli athletes should be able to participate in competitions with their own flag.
France is hosting the Olympics, which will last until August 11. 10,500 athletes from 206 delegations are participating in the event held in Paris, where approximately 16 million tourists are expected.
