Baku Initiative Group highlights violation of Olympic principles in Paris 2024 Games

The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) has highlighted a striking contradiction in French President Emmanuel Macron's portrayal of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as a "moment of peace and hope."

BIG’s statement refers to the violation of the principles of the Olympics at the Paris 2024 games, Caliber.Az reports citing the local media.

While Macron and his government present the Games as a symbol of unity and optimism, critics argue that France's colonial and neo-colonial policies undermine this vision.

BIG references the Olympic Charter, which states that Olympism aims to utilize sports to foster the harmonious development of humanity and contribute to the creation of a peaceful society that upholds human dignity.

However, according to reports from representatives of political parties and movements advocating for independence in Polynesia, Corsica, Melanesia, the Caribbean, and the Antilles, there have been documented instances of discrimination in employment and housing. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the exploitation of natural resources and the organized mass immigration policies carried out under the French government’s auspices.

The statement outlines several facts that are at odds with the spirit of the Olympics.

Among these issues is the implementation of an ineffective economic development strategy that benefits French monopolists in these territories. This has led to significant problems, including: excessive food dependency (with over 80 per cent of food sourced from France), a high cost of living, widespread poverty (with 50 per cent of the population in French Guiana living below the poverty line), and high unemployment rates. These conditions contribute to various forms of unrest, including violence and drug trafficking, posing serious threats to the future stability of these regions.

The non-ratification of the Indigenous Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169) in French Guiana, coupled with the dominance of French culture and assimilation policies, exacerbates the marginalization of indigenous languages and cultures. The imposition of a French curriculum in local schools further undermines indigenous perspectives by failing to reflect the region's history, geography, and cultural identity.