A pro-Palestinian organization is set to protest at Parc des Princes stadium on Wednesday during Israel's Olympic team's match against Mali, the opening game of the soccer tournament in Paris.
Susan Shields, a representative of the French activist group Europalestine, announced that there would be a "silent protest inside the stadium against the genocide in Gaza."
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Signs calling to remove Israel from the Paris Olympics
(Photo: REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)
Israel’s Olympic team coach, Guy Luzon, addressed the anticipated protests, saying, "They will only make us better. Let the protests be held with as many people and as much noise as possible; it’ll make us perform more strongly."
Calls from Palestinian territories and Iran have recently urged the suspension of Israel from the 2024 Paris Olympics. On Tuesday, the Palestinian Olympic Committee sent an official letter to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, with Iran following suit. The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying, "Israeli athletes don’t deserve to be present at the Paris Olympics because of their war against the innocent in Gaza."
IOC President Bach responded to the demands, emphasizing, "The Olympic Games aren’t a competition between countries or governments. If we were to engage in political discussions about wars and conflicts, the opening ceremony would feature 100 countries instead of 206, given all the wars happening around the world."
Israel's team will begin their matches in the Olympic soccer tournament on Wednesday, marking their first appearance in 48 years since the 1976 Montreal Olympics. This will be the team’s third appearance in the Olympic Games, having previously reached the quarterfinals in both Mexico City 1968 and Montreal 1976.