olympics 2024 Archives - DU Beat - Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper

For a society that is deeply consumed and engrossed in sports and related forms of media. We often let our ideas and beliefs intrude into the fields, generating episodes of dismay and daunt. Similar appeared to be the case at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The Paris Olympics 2024 held the stature of being much more than a multisport convention; rather, it became an event reflective of the socio-political situations and the subsequent ideas that flow in the world. Whether it was the transphobia over the internet, the staggering victories of athletes from lesser developed nations, or the unfazed participation of a convicted child rapist, Olympics’24 moved beyond the grounds of sports to a playground of humanity.

The distressing trajectory of Vinesh Phogat is probably the clearest mirror of societal undertaking that could be deduced from the sports event. From being mislabeled as ‘anti-national’ for protesting against an alleged sexual predator, to being subjected to witch hunts of media trials, she became a personification of female rage. A fury, when wronged and provoked, translates into an agitation against the wrong. Her unwavering resilience in the face of a system pulling her down was solidified, as she became the first wrestler to defeat Yui Sasaki internationally. She finally stepped her foot into the battle for the gold.

However, like most realities of female anguish, her journey witnessed an extinguishing swivel when she was disqualified, for being overweight by a meagre amount of 100 grams. The dispiriting visuals of Vinesh cutting her hair, in an attempt to lose the weight, raise a salient question about the nutritionists under the aegis of the Government of India and, therefore the inadequacy of the sports management facilities of the Country.

In a nation that should have lauded and amended their refusal to believe her words, labelled her loss as ‘karma’. A reflection of how societally, a large strata of the population is traversing towards a path of leader-worship being prioritised over nationalism.

For anyone who believes that the current generation is more accepting and broad-minded than the previous, the Olympics’24 suggested the contrary. The closeted racism and transphobia of the Gen Z came out in the open upon the victory of Imane Khelif, as the factually incorrect data of her being a transwoman was widespread on the internet. A mirror to how society readily propagates fake news, immense enough to ruin a person’s career and life, given that Imane belongs to the homophobic nation of Algeria, as long as their beliefs and ideas are supported.

To box with binaries and mislabel someone scantily because of the alleged lack of sense of femininity, shows how, despite the years past, we remain affixed to the age-old ideas of the sexes. From prominent public figures like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Rowling, to people amongst us posting on the gram against her, each of us becomes a perpetuator of the dismay she underwent. The netizens rushed to support Vinesh, questioning how a ‘man’ like Imane is allowed to compete while she was disqualified. They submitted to the idea of performative faux-feminism. To put down one woman, to uplift another, a subshoot to the Madonna-Whore complex.

The participation of convicted child rapist, Steven Van De Velde, depicts that while the administrative board of the Olympics might hold a disqualification over a meagre 100 grams or the alleged secularism policies that called for a hijab ban, they would allow a person who raped a 12-year-old to compete. Despite the backlash from people around the world, Van De Velde’s qualification shows that moral grounds seldom get respected and people committing crimes of colossal detestation will continue to be protected and prosper. On the contrary, those not subscribing to the societal hierarchical structure would continue to bear the brunt of crimes they didn’t commit.

The Olympics’24 also had its fair share of heartwarming moments, from Chinese gymnast Zhou Yaqin’s endearing medal-biting moment, the trifecta of the javelin throw being achieved by people of colour, or the bow to Rebeca Andrade on the historic all-people-of-colour podium of gymnastics. But Vinesh’s retirement from wrestling, the shattering impact on Imane’s esteem from a generation that boasts of their efforts for mental health, and various other fallacies outside the field of sports, largely reflect upon the flaws that we, as a society, sustain and propagate. Leading to the origination of an environment wherein alleged sportsmanship takes the backfoot, and propaganda leads the game.

Featured Image Credits: The Economic Times

Shikhar Pathak

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Almost all major international events begin with a process of hiding – greenery reinvigorated, slums covered with steel sheets, littered roads cleaned overnight. The displays of international might and prosperity are always accompanied with a subduing of political realities. Host cities, in the effort to establish themselves as global hubs, polish the good and conceal the bad. Failures of governance are rescinded to the dark. The game of global politics rears an ugly side during global events, one where the politicians are temporary magicians and their nations, another stage for spectacle.

The Olympics have always been an ace spectacle, gilded with the exertion of soft power and budding nationalism. As the games began in Paris this week, political and bureaucratic machinery was mobilised, as it always is in such cases to make the city “presentable” – turning iconic French sites into a backdrop, la culture was there but it barely spoke, as the city was reduced to a ghost town. This is partially because it’s summer, but also because large swathes of the city have been armed and barricaded. So Parisians chose to flee the city while others – have been asked to leave.

Earlier this year, around 3000 students were asked to leave their subsidised student accommodation, provided by the Paris affiliate of CROUS, a public institution which manages affordable housing for university attendees. This was done to accommodate volunteers and public officers for the Olympics. In return, the displaced students, who’re often unable to move out of Paris for the summer due to financial constraints, were handed a 100 euros and two tickets to the Games – an imperfect compensation. Social collectives like Le Revers de la Medaille issued public letters to the Olympic Organising Committee regarding the displacement of refugees, squatting in Île-de-France, around the Olympic village. Behind its touristique sheen, Paris is known for high living prices and its mismanagement of refugee populations. While some may argue the Olympics jolted administration into civil action, there’s little consideration of the long- term.

Even after the Parisian mayor’s dip in the Seine and a hole of 1.4 billion dollar in the government’s pocket to make it swimmable – the iconic river still appears to be somewhat hazardous with positive tests for E.coli as late as the end of July. These infrastructural developments, usually done in haste and with power projection in mind – are far from effective sustainable strategies. Behind the race of gold medallions, there is a grave political reality which can be visually manipulated, but continues to speak after such events, which exacerbate more than heal.

Moreover, the city of the Paris Protocol has attempted to decrease emissions this time – aiming at about 1.5 metric tonnes, half of the London Olympics. While only two sporting venues have been constructed with bio-sourced materials and claim to use 100% renewable energy, methodologies remain unclear and lack monitoring. Organisers already were pressured to drop phrases like “carbon-neutral” by local activists, as they remain silent on the several fuel-guzzling planes that flew in tourists, athletes, and heads of state.

The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics were held in Sochi barely having pre-existing sporting infrastructure. Villages in Krasnodar Krai became dumping grounds for construction waste; the ground-up construction displaced locals and cut off water supply while contaminating local streams. Local activists raised concerns, however the games continued as they usually do, turning out to be the most expensive Winter Olympics in history. While many would like to believe so – this isn’t solely a Putin problem. The most horrifying stories are from the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, where parts of western Rio de Janeiro – particularly Vila Autódromo, a favela — was fully levelled to construct gyms and swimming pools. When they protested, the police responded brutally – for them the legacy of the Olympics was one which razed their village to the ground.

The Olympic memory remains duplicitous – the celebration of sportsmanship is built of the foundations of forced evictions, displacement and wastefulness. As the city of love is transformed into the city of sport for the Olympics, it’s easy to forget that behind the glitz and glam lies the human cost of hosting events of such magnitude, a cost citizens shouldn’t have to bear.

Featured Image Credits: Reuters

Chaharika Uppal

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