Athletistic / Olympic Games. The 2024 Summer Olympics will end in Paris on August 11. The French capital is hosting such a major sporting event for the third time in its history, but for the first time in 100 years. Perhaps such a long break has affected the level of organization of the Olympics, but there have been so many problems and scandals at the 2024 Olympics that a separate ranking could be made of them.

1. Non-admission of the Russian and Belarusian national teams to the 2024 Olympic Games

Even before the start of the Olympic Games, by the will of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), it became incredibly toxic. The fact is that the IOC did not care about the Olympic Charter and, under all sorts of pretexts, did not allow Russian and Belarusian teams to compete. The politicization of the IOC happened a long time ago, but before that the organization diligently masked it, but after the start of the SVO, all masks were thrown off.

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As a result, 15 Russians and 17 Belarusians competed at the 2024 Olympic Games in individual neutral status. Thanks to the efforts of tennis players Mirra Andreeva and Diana Schneider, Russia has silver, and Belarus currently has 4 medals: 1 gold, two silver and one bronze.

2. Too loose a scenario for the Olympic opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics took place on July 26 in the center of the French capital. For the first time, the parade of athletes did not take place in the stadium: the athletes were loaded onto special barges that crossed the waters of the Seine – all delegations were placed on 85 boats. After the completion of the parade of athletes, a theatrical performance began, which was eventually criticized for its parody of the biblical story depicted in the painting “The Last Supper” by the legendary Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci.

Photo source: screenshot of a video from the official IOC website

Already on July 28, the Organizing Committee of the 2024 Olympic Games and the IOC Press Office apologized for certain aspects of the Opening Ceremony. And as we know, whatever you call the ship, that is how it will sail…

3. Worms in food prepared in the Olympic Village

Complaints about the quality and quantity of food in the Olympic Village canteens began before the competition even began, but the most egregious case was highlighted by three-time Olympic swimming champion Adam Peaty.

— I like fish, but people find worms in it. It’s not good. We look at the best in the world, but we don’t give them the best” said Petey in an interview with British media.

It is known that after this incident, almost all representatives of the British Olympic team stopped going to the Olympic canteen and managed to convince their NOC of the need for independent food. As a result, the British ate in a separate dining room, located 15 minutes drive from the Olympic Village.

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4. The level of pollution in the Seine.

The river that flows through the French capital has become almost the main topic of the Olympic Games. As early as 1923, the prefect of the capital region issued a decree prohibiting swimming in the Seine. However, the current French authorities were so keen to throw dust in the eyes of the world community that they decided to hold part of the Olympic competitions in this river at all costs. More than 1.5 billion euros were spent to clean it of waste and human waste (sewage), but this did not make it suitable for swimming.

Photo source: IOC

Due to the level of pollution in the Seine, neither triathletes nor open water swimmers did any official training. Competitions in these sports were still held in the Seine, but after such an experience, it is unlikely that many athletes will remember the Paris Olympics with warmth. Some triathletes and swimmers could not hold back the urge to vomit right from the race; many consulted doctors immediately after the finish or within two or three days after the competition; some were diagnosed with E. coli;

5. Gender boxing

Iman Khelif from Algeria became the Olympic champion in women’s boxing in the weight category up to 66 kg. Her example was followed by Lin Yu-Ting from Taiwan, who won the weight category up to 57 kg. But the problem is that in 2023, Khelif and Yu-Ting were disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) from the World Championships in New Delhi (India) due to a failed gender test. In fact, the IBA, after finding XY chromosomes in its analyzes, recognized these athletes as men. However, the IOC did not recognize the results of the IBA investigation and allowed both (or both) to participate in the Olympic Games.

The most resounding incident was the fight between Iman Khelif and the Italian Angela Carini, which ended in the 46th second. The fact is that Carini refused to continue the fight, having received only two blows. According to Angela, she had never been beaten so badly in her life.

Photo source: screenshot of a video from the official IOC website

Even Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni could not ignore it.

“I think that athletes with male genetic characteristics should not be accepted in women’s categories. And this is not about discrimination against someone, but about protecting the rights of female athletes who should have the opportunity to compete on an equal footing. Moreover, it is also a safety issue. I think the IOC should consider the consequences and not allow any discrimination. It was not a fair fight.“, Meloni said, quoting ANSA.

6. Men’s basketball referee scandal

The semi-final match of the 2024 Olympic Games in the men’s basketball tournament between the national teams of Serbia and the United States will be remembered for many years. This meeting gave vivid emotions to millions of sports fans and ended in a voluntary victory for the Americans with a score of 95:91. It is important to note that before the last quarter, the Serbs beat the Stars and Stripes with a difference of 13 points. But the problem is that after the final siren, the referees of this match were not reprimanded only by lazy people.

— The Americans did not need the help of the judges, but they finally got itSerbian defender Bogdan Bogdanovic said after the match.

— In which country would that not be jogging? PS Next time tell us in advance who cannot be defeated,” Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic wrote on social media.

— The Americans defeated the Serbs, in my opinion, not without the help of the referees. The judges were ultimately not completely objective and could not cope with the pressure of the millionaires.“, said Honored USSR coach Evgeny Gomelsky in an interview with TASS.

Photo source: NBA press service

The United States has arrived at the 2024 Olympics as the next version of the Dream Team led by LeBron James. However, the refereeing scandal in the match against Serbia will certainly leave a bad taste after the ongoing Olympics.

7. But cancelled after two hours

Argentina national team midfielder Christian Medina scored a goal in the 16th minute of stoppage time in the second half of the Olympic football tournament group stage 1 match with Morocco, equalizing the score. But during the celebration, firecrackers and firecrackers were thrown at the Argentine footballers from the stands. Then, the Moroccan national team fans ran onto the field, which was why the match was suspended. Two hours later, the match continued, but by that time, the VAR had canceled the Argentines’ goal. As a result, the Albiceleste lost to the Moroccans with a score of 1:2.

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Even after the official complaint of the Argentines, FIFA did not intervene in what happened, the result of the match remained the same. This is a dangerous precedent for world football.

8. Another adventure with hymns

At the Paris Olympics, the South Sudanese national basketball team suffered from organizational problems. In the team’s first match at the 2024 Olympics, the South Sudanese met Puerto Rico. Before the start of the match, the Sudanese anthem was played in the arena. The organizers, realizing their mistake, turned off the music.

After a while, the organizers finally played the right anthem. And the next day, the communications director of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, Anne Deschamps, apologized to South Sudan.

9. The criminal is an Olympic participant

Dutch national beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde received a loud whistle before the start of the match with the Italian team: when van de Velde’s name was announced, fans in the stands expressed their displeasure with him.

Photo source: FIVB

The reason was the past of a volleyball player. The fact is that in 2014, in the city of Milton Keynes (UK), van de Velde, at the age of 19, came to visit a 12-year-old girl he met on social networks. For having sex with a minor, Stephen was sentenced to four years in prison.

10. Aggressive journalist

Chinese athlete Wang Chuqin won a gold medal in the mixed doubles table tennis competition at the 2024 Olympic Games. However, he then stumbled sensationally in the round of 16 in singles, losing to Sweden’s Truls Meregard.

After the match, Chuqin gave an interview to reporters. At that time, a Swedish reporter deliberately bumped into her. After this behavior, the 2024 Olympic organizing committee stripped the Swede of her accreditation and she was banned from working at the current Olympics.

Nikita Serbakov, Athletistic



Athletistic