Daisy Ella 510 views
Last Updated On: May 03, 2025 10:52 AM , Published On: Aug 12, 2024 06:54 AM
The 2024 Olympics provided many unforgettable events, ranging from a colorful and difficult opening ceremony to Pakistan's first Olympic gold medal, boxers involved in a gender debate, and polite bows on the gymnastics podium.
Concerns and conflicts surrounding the 2024 Summer Olympics include those about security, human rights, criticizing Christianity, allowing Israel to compete between the Israel-Hamas conflict, and allowing athletes from Belarus and Russia to compete as neutrals during Russia's entry of Ukraine.
Controversial Opening Ceremony
A perfect event for the expected reasons, the rain-soaked boat parade on the Seine River lived up to the organizer’s expectations of an amazing opening ceremony.
Church groups, conservatives, and even US presidential candidate Donald Trump were upset by a scene that looked to make fun of Jesus's Last Supper and included drag queens and lesbian DJ Barbara Butch.
Pakistan wins gold via Arshad Nadeem
Arshad Nadeem won the gold medal in the men's javelin at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, marking an important win for Pakistan. In a contest full of exciting shots, Nadeem's winning 92.97 meters a new Olympic record was memorable.
Nadeem led the field every time he raced, showing remarkable control and efficiency. He was able to secure his podium spot with a last throw that considerably beat India's Neeraj Chopra.
The show's star, Bile’s
Even though Simone Bile stole the show, she received a lot of credit for submitting to her greatest competitor, Rebeca Andrade, at the podium.
After finishing in second and third place behind the Brazilian in the floor final, respectively, with teammate Jordan Chiles, Bile said it was "just the right thing to do".
"She's queen, Rebecca is so amazing," Bile’s said.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ultimately decided that Chiles's initial fifth-place finish should not have been upgraded, and Romanian Ana Barbosu was later given the bronze medal.
The men's 100m ultra-close race
In the most exciting men's Olympic 100m final in modern history, world champion Noah Lyles blasted to gold in 9.79 seconds; five-thousands of a second separated him from Jamaica's Kishane Thompson. "Among all of them, I'm the man. I'm the wolf among wolves," said Lyles, whose victory was confirmed through a picture finish.
Canada Women's Soccer Coach for Boots
Before the 2024 Olympics even got underway, Canada Soccer fired head coach Bev Priest man of the Canadian women's soccer team for reportedly using drones to spy on the New Zealand team before their group stage match.
Swimming Student Rejected for "Indiscipline"
The Brazilian Olympic Committee reported that swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira had two "acts of indiscipline" and was sent home. The BOC stated that she acted "disrespectfully and aggressively" in response to a "technical decision made by the Brazilian Swimming Team committee" about the 4x100m freestyle relay and that she then left the Olympic Village without permission with boyfriend and teammate Gabriel Santos.
Simone Bile’s vs. My Kayla Skinner
My Kayla Skinner, Simone Bile’s teammate from Tokyo, previously expressed her rejection of the U.S. gymnastics team's selection for the Paris Olympics in a since-deleted video. Skinner had also issued an apology for stating that "the talent and the depth just isn't like what it used to be" and that "obviously a lot of girls don't work as hard."
Gymnastics Score-Breaker
Jordan Chiles looked to be removed from the medal race after completing her final floor exercise routine with a score of 13.666, placing her below Romania's Ana Barbosu in third place with a score of 13.700.
But Chile’s start value was raised by a tenth of a point when Team USA submitted a scoring inquiry on her behalf and the judges carefully examined her performance. She therefore received a score increase to 13.766.
Some Domestic Issues and Controversies
The French government said in February 2024 that 300,000 spectators rather than 600,000 would attend the opening ceremony across the Seine as a security measure. Gerald Darmanin, the Interior Minister, put out this proposal in 2022.
There will be a chance to register for free tickets, but tourists and other pedestrians won't be allowed to view the event on the Seine. It was stated that there will be 45,000 police and security officers in addition to 220,000 spectators in July 2024.
Some Safety Concerns
COVID-19 pandemics
A COVID-19 pandemic affected aquatic people during the Games. Five Australian women's water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 on July 24, according to reports. According to Chef de Mission Anna Meares, established measures for respiratory illnesses had been carried out, and the cases were limited to the water polo team.
Branded water bottle recall
A week before the start of the Games, several kid-sized reusable water bottles carrying the Olympic logo that were licensed but not made by the organizers were recalled because they contained high amounts of Bisphenol A, which is illegal in France as of 2015.
Human rights and political issues
Worker exploitation
Workers were reportedly paid about €80 ($86.7) a day without any formal declaration, social security, or rest day, according to a report published in the French newspaper Liberation. Several employees expressed their irritation and displeasure at never receiving the pay that was promised in the contract.
Elections during the planning phase
The 2024 French legislative election took place on June 30 and July 7, 2024, one month before the Games. Following President Emmanuel Macron's decision to dissolve the National Assembly and hold a snap election, the election was held.
Considering the countries fighting wars
Potential for neutral athletes
During Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there has been ongoing controversy around the possible participation of athletes from Belarus and Russia. Citing the breach of the Olympic Truce, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended in February 2022 that sports federations reject athletes and officials from Belarus and Russia from participating in world championships.
Threats of Boycotts by Foreign Countries
The National Olympic and Paralympic Committees of the five Nordic nations Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden joined forces on February 3, 2023, to release a statement opposing the entry of athletes from Belarus and Russia in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. At that time, Poland, Ukraine, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania had all threatened to boycott.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What controversy involves the Olympics in 2024?
Before the 2024 Olympics even got started Canada Soccer fired head coach Bev Priest man of the Canadian women's soccer team for illegally using drones to spy on the New Zealand team before their group stage match.
Q. In 2024, why is breaking an Olympic sport?
Breaking, or breakdancing, was included in the sports program in Paris by the International Olympic Committee because President Thomas Bach and his colleagues believed it would bring in the younger, social media-savvy audience they were looking for.
Q. Who was eliminated from the 2024 Summer Olympics?
Olympics 2024: A refugee girl's statement at the Paris Games excludes her. Manizha Talash, an athlete from Afghanistan who is a refugee, has been disqualified for wearing a dress that said "free Afghan women" during her Olympic breaking competition in Paris.
Q. Which controversies have surrounded the Olympics throughout the years?
- The Nazi Olympics, Berlin 1936.
- Japan and Germany were banned in London in 1948.
- 1956 in Melbourne: Two protests.
- Brutal Shooting and Civil Rights Protest in Mexico City, 1968.