Follow the latest news on the 2024 Paris Olympics
Calls in France for an “Olympic truce” during the Paris 2024 Summer Games have failed, and Palestinian athletes feel pressure to raise awareness about the Gaza war’s devastating human cost.
In Paris, members of the Arab community said they hoped that, despite international tensions and political uncertainty in France, the Games would be a moment of celebration.
The Games are being held under a cloud, with the wars in Gaza and Ukraine shaping the scenes in Paris.
Palestinian Olympic Committee president Jibril Rajoub was greeted on Thursday at dawn at Charles de Gaulle Airport by a group of activists holding Palestinian flags and chanting “long live the struggle of the Palestinian people".
Mr Rajoub repeated his call to boycott Israel over its war on Gaza, which has killed more than 39,100 people. The Israeli army began its offensive after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200.
“For legal, moral and human and sports reason, Israel has lost its right to take part in this altruistic event,” Mr Rajoub told reporters.
Such calls have fallen on deaf ears at the International Olympic Committee and in the French government, drawing accusations of double standards.
Russian athletes have been subject to tight restrictions due to the war in Ukraine and have to compete under a neutral banner.
But France has maintained its support for Israeli athletes, despite growing international condemnation of Israel's conduct in Gaza.
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera described as “shameful” a recent statement made by left-wing legislator, Thomas Portes, claiming Israeli athletes were “not welcome".
“There is an Olympic truce. We have a responsibility to contribute to global harmony,” Ms Oudea-Castera told local radio on Tuesday.
Palestinian athletes greeting Mr Rajoub were careful not to comment on the presence of Israeli athletes, but said they were keen to use the Olympic Games as a platform to highlight the plight of their people.
“It's not about the medals. It's about reaching the most people about the Palestinian cause,” swimmer Yazan Al Bawwab told The National. “If a medal gets me more awareness, that's what I care about, for me personally, sport is a tool for peace.”
Palestinians are not able to practise sports properly because of a lack of infrastructure, said Al Bawwab, adding there is “not one pool in Palestine.”
“It's unfortunate that an athlete like me, instead of talking about my participation, instead of talking about my races and medals, I'm talking about kids being killed. I'm talking about trying to get human rights,” he said.
Just raising the Palestinian flag was also a source of pride for Mr Al Bawwab. “Some protesters, they raise the flag, the police get them. Nobody can talk to me,” he said.
Palestinian flags, which were raised in support of Gaza on Wednesday evening at an Israel-Mali football match at the Parc des Princes, have been banned at some pro-Palestine events in France.
A Dubai resident, Mr Al Bawwab said he had received both negative and positive attention in the past two weeks as he trained in the city of Nanterre, north-west of Paris.
“I do get a lot of people looking at me and staring, but I don't care,” he said, dismissing the idea that such attention could interfere with his training.
“The pressure is on the Palestinian people. This is nothing.”
There are eight Palestinian athletes taking part in the Olympic Games. Wassim Abu Sal, 20, is the only member of the delegation who lives in the occupied West Bank. He shared his excitement about competing in a world-class event.
“I'm proud to be here representing Palestine,” said Mr Abu Sal, a boxer trained in Ramallah with a Cairo-based coach from Gaza. Gazans cannot travel to the occupied West Bank.
US-born swimmer Valerie Tarazi added: “Our goal is to compete, absolutely, but our goal is also to tell everyone's story. Every Palestinian has a unique story because we are located all over the world.”
Excitement about the Olympic Games has been slow to spread through the French capital but noticeably picked up with the first football matches on Wednesday.
Egypt drew 0-0 with the Dominican Republic, but Morocco beat Argentina 2-1 in a match that was suspended for two hours after crowd trouble.
“I've been waiting for the Games with passion since last year,” said Idi, a 50-year-old lorry driver from Tunisia, as he sat in a cafe in the northern suburb of Aubervilliers to watch the football matches with his friends.
The only athlete to attract Idi's attention was Tunisian swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui.
“To be honest nobody else interests me. I'm crazy about football,” Idi said.
His family, who are on holiday in Tunisia, have asked him to have a live video phone call with them on Friday evening during the first-ever open-air opening ceremony.
There will be more than 200,000 free spots for the event, which will take place along the river Seine in the centre of Paris.
Hassan Saleh, a 27-year-old waiter at an Egyptian cafe in the 18th arrondissement, also hopes to be part of the crowd to catch a glimpse of the ceremony.
Details have been kept under wraps but it is expected to include pop stars such as Celine Dion and Lady Gaga.
“I've been counting down the days,” Mr Saleh told The National. “It's an exciting event that has brought many tourists to France. It is very well organised and safe. The rumours claiming it is not safe are false.”
Mr Saleh, who arrived in Paris from Egypt 10 months ago, was alarmed by the recent shift to the far-right in French politics.
Countdown to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – in pictures
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The Olympic rings are illuminated on the Eiffel Tower before the start of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Getty Images -
The Arc de Triomphe adorned with the Paralympic logo. Getty Images -
Riders and horses from Team Ireland practise dressage during an equestrian eventing training session at Chateau de Versailles. Getty Images -
A beach volleyball practice match at the Eiffel Tower Stadium. AP -
Boipelo Awuah of South Africa during skateboard training at La Concorde. Reuters -
French President Emmanuel Macron with athletes during a visit to the Olympic village. Reuters -
A view of the beach volleyball venue in Paris. AP -
People play basketball in front of the Hotel de Ville. Getty Images -
The skateboarding venue at La Concorde. AFP -
The interior of the Grand Palais, where fencing and taekwondo competitions will take place. Getty Images -
The Olympic village, as seen from the Village plaza in Saint-Denis. Getty Images -
French judoka Clarisse Agbegnenou holds the Olympic Torch next to Tony Estanguet, president of the organising committee of the 2024 Games, at the Eiffel Tower. AFP -
The Olympic Games logo at Bastille Square in Paris. EPA -
A soldier at a military camp in the Vincennes forest, on the outskirts of Paris. The camp will house 4,500 soldiers who will provide additional security during the Games. AP -
Torchbearers pose with the Olympic flame and dancers outside The Moulin Rouge. Reuters -
A banner bearing the Paris 2024 Olympic Games logo, at the Trocadero in Paris. AFP -
Lt Gen Christophe Abad, the Military Governor of Paris, holds the Olympic torch as he rides past officials including President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte during the Bastille Day military parade. AFP -
The Eiffel Tower Stadium as workers prepare the venue that will host beach volleyball events. Getty Images -
Workers set up internet cables inside the handball arena in Paris. Getty Images -
Torch bearer and French BMX world champion Matthias Dandois performs after holding the Olympic flame at the Trocadero in front of the Eiffel Tower. AFP -
Olympic rings are installed in front of the Nantes train station. AFP -
Members of the public take photos in front of the countdown clock for the Games at Port de la Bourfonnais, near the Eiffel Tower, in Paris. PA -
Stands are constructed at Place de la Concorde ahead of the Games. PA -
Tourists stand on the Sacre-Coeur Basilica stairs painted with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games colours. Reuters -
The big screens at Piccadilly Circus in London marking 100 days to go before the Games begin. PA -
People watch as former British Olympic artistic swimmers Asha George, Katie Clark, Sisy Wang and Emily Kuhl perform in a water tank in London to mark 100 days before the Games. Reuters -
Stands are constructed on the Champ-de-Mars, near the Eiffel Tower. PA -
Greek actress Mary Mina, playing the role of High Priestess, lights the flame during the Olympic Flame lighting ceremony in Greece for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Reuters -
Workers build stands for this summer's Olympic Games on the Champ-de-Mars, beside the Eiffel Tower in Paris. AP -
French skipper Armel Le Cleac'h poses with the Olympic torch and the Olympic lantern, in Paris. Navigator Mr Le Cleac'h will carry the Olympic flame from Brest to the Antilles next June in the ocean torch relay, which will visit six French overseas territories. AFP -
Workers construct banks of seating in front of the obelisk at the La Concorde Urban Park site in central Paris. AFP -
Police officers, military personnel, rescue workers and firefighters take part in an exercise simulating a terrorist attack at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, eastern France. AFP -
Activists hold a banner that translates to: 'Do not leave exclusion as a legacy', during a protest to raise awareness of the social impact of the Olympics in Paris. AP -
Grandstands are set up in the gardens of Chateau de Versailles, where equestrian events and the modern pentathlon will be held. EPA -
The facade of Paris City Hall is decorated with the Olympic rings. EPA -
Some of the French capital's Metro stations have changed their name for Olympic year. EPA -
Maintenance work is carried out at the swimming pools in the Aquatics Centre, built for the Olympics in Saint Denis. AFP -
Two official Olympic 'Phryges' mascots on parade at the headquarters of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee. AFP -
The Champ-de-Mars Arena is taking shape. It will host judo, para judo, wrestling and wheelchair rugby, with beach volleyball held nearby. AP -
Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals in a Louis Vuitton medals trunk, which will transport and protect the gongs. Reuters -
Members of the French National Police elite unit take part in an exercise drill in the Paris suburb of Draveil. AFP -
The Media Village that will host journalists from around the world, in Le Bourget. AFP -
Activists pose with Olympic rings outside the Orsay Museum in Paris, during a demonstration to draw attention to social inequality they say will be exacerbated by the coming event. AFP -
Employees work on outfits for volunteers at a manufacturing workshop in Marseille. AFP -
A test for the Olympic torch relay in Troyes. Reuters -
A French police officer demonstrates how an anti-drone gun works during a media presentation of security systems at a military base in Velizy-Vallacoublay, south-west of Paris. AFP
Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National, which obtained its best results in recent European and snap elections, had campaigned against immigration with a particular focus on foreigners from Muslim countries.
The far-right's results were limited in the second round of the snap election by alliances between leftists and the centrists.
But the results have caused political uncertainty in France, with many officials complaining that it would cast a shadow over the Olympic Games.
“It was difficult to see France shifting towards the right,” said Mr Saleh. “It is a country built on freedoms and human rights. Since my childhood, I've heard that France is the country of human rights.”
