Why the Paris 2024 Olympics Are Being Labeled 'The Worst Ever'

Hosting of the Summer Olympics is highly competitive, with cities hoping to draw in more tourists, although it incurs huge amounts of costs. With the Olympics occurring once in four years, it is also a highly anticipated event worldwide. However, many social media users are calling the Paris Olympics “the worst ever,” citing poor organisation on France’s part. Read on to see the issues that have cropped up so far, with a couple of days left until the closing ceremony.

Poor living conditions

Image Credit: @jhandoriel, @jinweigoh

Athletes should be in tip-top condition to compete in the Games with plenty of rest. However, many athletes have complained of terrible living conditions in the Olympic Village living quarters, including cramped quarters, uncomfortable cardboard beds, subpar food offerings, and a lack of air conditioning, even though the city has been experiencing high temperatures.

Malaysian shuttler Goh Jin Wei was spotted setting up her own portable air-conditioning unit after her two-bedder room came only with a standing fan.

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Meanwhile, Italian swimmer and gold medalist Thomas Ceccon was even spotted sleeping next to a park bench after complaining about the lack of air conditioning and noise inside the village. Mamma Mia!

Highly controversial opening ceremony

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The most highly anticipated part of the Games is usually a glittering opening ceremony, but many said that France not only fell short but insulted millions of Christians worldwide. A controversial drag performance appeared to depict and mock Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting of Jesus Christ in ‘The Last Supper.’ The Vatican even issued a statement saying that “the performance showed a lack of respect for others.”

Numerous racist incidents

There have been various incidents of apparent racism, especially towards Chinese athletes, by those of other nationalities. US tennis player Emma Navarro, who lost to China’s Qinwen Zheng, apparently said, "I just told her I didn’t respect her as a competitor," and kept confronting her after the match.

Additionally, China’s swimmer Phan Zhanle who broke a world record in the men’s 100 freestyle called out Australia’s Kyle Chalmers, who he said ignored him. He also claimed that American swimmer Jack Alexy splashed water on his coach during warmups.

Triathlete vomits 10 times after swimming in Seine River

The cleanliness of the Seine River, which was used in events, was questioned even before the Games. Canadian Triathlete Tyle Mislawchuk then hit the headlines when he vomited 10 times after swimming across the polluted river. However, he blamed the high temperatures for his mid-race puking as he resides in a cooler climate. Belgian triathlete Clair Michel was also taken to the hospital after falling ill with E. Coli after swimming in the Seine.

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Thefts at the Olympic Village

Europe is notorious for being unsafe, and numerous thefts have been reported inside the Village itself. According to Reuters, a Japanese rugby sevens player had his wedding ring, a necklace, and cash stolen from his room. The head coach of Argentina’s Olympic football team also reported that some of his players were robbed before their very first game.

Algerian boxer bullied over gender dispute

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Female boxer from Algeria, Imane Khelif, has faced intense scrutiny and false accusations about her gender and eligibility to compete with women. She has faced a wave of attacks about her gender identity and asked the public to “avoid bullying all athletes.” The controversy even drew public figures such as J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk to condemn the Olympics.

Could any picture sum up our new men’s rights movement better? The smirk of a male who’s knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Q5SbKiksXQ
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 1, 2024

As reported by NBC News, Khelif said, “I want to tell the entire world that I am a female." Meanwhile, the Olympics committee has also released a statement stating that, "Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination," and that "all athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations."

Convicted child rapist allowed to participate

Beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde from the Netherlands was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after admitting three counts of rape against a 12-year-old British girl. As reported by BBC, he was loudly booed by the crowd during his games when he was introduced individually to the crowd and when he walked on the court. His inclusion in the Dutch team has been criticised by women's and safeguarding groups.

Controversial medal change

Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu placed third place in the women’s floor exercise, which meant that she would be receiving bronze, but unfortunately, the tables turned. Team USA’s Jordan Chiles had her score increased after submitting a challenge to judges as a skill in her Gogean routine, a split leap with a 1.5-turn, was originally not credited. Barbosa was seen sobbing on live television as she placed fourth.

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Have we missed out on any other moments? Let us know in the comments.

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