Paris Olympics 2024: A Look At The Top Controversies From The Now Concluded Edition

The Paris Olympics 2024 put on a great spectacle over a span of three weeks before coming to an end on August 12. Throughout the weeks-long proceedings, the Paris Olympics held a permanent spot in the headlines for various reasons. Moving beyond the discussions of which country won the most medals, the latest Olympic Games witnessed its own set of controversies, from athletes being stripped of medals to questions over the gender of the participating athletes. Moreover, the host, France, itself faced scrutiny over the arrangements made to accommodate athletes from all over the world. Now that the curtains have been drawn on the Paris Olympics 2024, let’s take a closer look at the major controversies from this edition.

The Gender Row With Imane Khelif and Lin Yu Ting at the Center

The women’s boxing event at the Paris Olympics landed in a puddle following the match between Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Italy’s Angela Carini in the 66 kg category. Carini withdrew from the match within the initial 48 seconds, citing the blows by Imane Khelif as immensely painful. The incident highlighted Khelif’s ban from the 2024 World Championships by the IBA for containing XY, the male chromosome, in her body. Lin Yu Ting of Taiwan, also at the Paris Olympics, had faced a similar fate last year.

The issue regarding their participation in female combat sports raged over the internet with names like Elon Musk and JK Rowling joining the debate and opposing her participation. The IOC, meanwhile, defended the players, paving the way for both boxers to continue their campaigns. Eventually, both Imane Khelif and Lin Yu Ting won gold medals in their respective categories at the Paris Olympics.

The Arrest of Australian Field Hockey Player Tom Craig Over Drug Dealing

Tom Craig, a member of the Australian field hockey team, was arrested in Paris following the team’s elimination from the tournament. Craig was reportedly caught buying cocaine from a “dealer on the streets.” The authorities, in turn, arrested the Australian athlete along with the 17-year-old dealer. On the intervention of the Australian Olympic Committee, no formal charges were pressed against Craig, as he was let go after a formal warning. However, the AOC barred Craig from any further activities with the Australian team at the Paris Olympics 2024.

The AOC, in a formal statement, informed, "The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has confirmed an Australian hockey team member is in custody after being arrested in Paris on August 6th. No charges have been laid. The AOC is continuing to make inquiries and arrange support for the team member."

Tom Craig eventually apologized for the incident, stating that it was his fault and should not reflect the values displayed by his team and the AOC.

"I'd firstly like to apologize for what has occurred over the past 24 hours. I made a terrible mistake and I take full responsibility for my actions,” Tom said. "My actions are my own and in no way reflect the values of my family, my teammates, my friends, my sport, and the Australian Olympic Committee. I've embarrassed you all and I'm truly sorry,” the Australian athlete concluded.

Criticism of The Arrangements At The Paris Olympics 2024 By Athletes

Thomas Ceccon, an Italian swimmer, won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics in the 100m backstroke event and a bronze in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay. However, the Italian swimmer missed qualifying for the 200m backstroke final. The swimmer, who otherwise captivated social media with his ‘looks,’ opened up about the poor arrangements for athletes at the Olympic Village.

"There is no air conditioning in the village, it's hot, the food is bad. Many athletes move for this reason: it's not an alibi or excuse, it's the reality of what perhaps not everyone knows. I'm disappointed that I didn't make the final but I was too tired. It's hard to sleep both at night and in the afternoon. Usually, when I'm at home, I always sleep in the afternoon: here I really struggle between the heat and the noise," the swimmer expressed after his ousting from the 200m backstroke event.

Thomas Ceccon was also seen sleeping in a park in Paris, with photos of him going viral, highlighting how athletes were facing sleep deprivation because of the substandard arrangements in the athlete's village. The Paris Olympics aimed to become the ‘greenest’ Olympics to date. As a result, the Olympic Village set up ‘cardboard beds’ for the athletes. Moreover, the concept of air conditioning proved to be an alien one at the recently concluded games. While a good move for the environment, the setup proved highly uncomfortable for the athletes, with many of them shifting to hotels to seek the needed rest between their respective events.