France's bias against Azerbaijan at Paris 2024 Olympics Macronism tarnishes spirit of Olympics

Macron’s France, where Armenians are unjustifiably benefiting from wide opportunities of the colonial nation without the consent of the general public due to the proximity of Armenian diaspora groups to the heart of the Elysee Paris, did not miss an opportunity at the official opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26 to throw mud at Azerbaijan in an endeavor to please Armenia, its past occupation of Azerbaijani lands, and the ongoing efforts of the aggressor nation to come clean.

Violations of Olympic principles: France's provocative behavior

As the history of the Olympic Games reveals, wars, conflicts, and calls for enmity in all its forms were traditionally suspended. However, this time, such principles were ignored by the French authorities to continue portraying Azerbaijan negatively, aligning with Macron’s overall anti-Azerbaijani policies.

So, what was France’s provocative behavior against Azerbaijan at the official opening of the Olympic Games on July 26?

During the live broadcast of the opening ceremony on the French TV channel France 2, presenters voiced provocative statements against Azerbaijan. When the Armenian team paraded, journalist Laurent Delahousse knowingly stated that "Armenia is a country historically close to the hearts of the French."

Though this biased attitude is obvious and causes no doubt, the sporting event was not the place to voice such political slogans. The presenter also made anti-Azerbaijani remarks related to the now-defunct Karabakh conflict.

When the Azerbaijani team passed through, Azerbaijan was described as “a Caucasus republic in conflict with Armenia on the territorial issue.”

Comments by the French commentator targeting Azerbaijan's territorial integrity during the Armenian team's appearance provoked wide-ranging indignation in Azerbaijan as this incident violates Olympic principles, which are meant to uphold peace and unity among nations. It is especially ironic given France’s colonial legacy, including its policies in New Caledonia, which also merit attention.

Baku should file a complaint with the International Olympic Committee and appeal to French authorities to ensure adherence to Olympic norms and seek justice. These manifestations of bias and political intervention at international sporting events once again highlight France's reputation as an organizer of global events and its commitment to the principles of fairness and neutrality.

A thorn in France’s side

Azerbaijan's restoration of its territorial integrity, independent policies, and all-out efforts to keep France away from the South Caucasus irritate official Paris and push malicious plans and plots against Baku. Azerbaijan’s just protests and criticism of France’s support for Armenian separatism always trigger negative reactions from Paris.

However, the facts are undeniable. The mud-slinging and support for the aggressor nation of Armenia during a widely watched opening ceremony are clear attempts to belittle Azerbaijan. Nevertheless, these machinations will not prevail as everyone recognizes Azerbaijan’s struggle for the integrity and inviolability of its lands, achieved without violating international and humanitarian principles.

Overinflated budget

Despite the internal political crisis after Macron's defeat in the extraordinary parliamentary elections he called, he is attempting to use the Olympics to whitewash his image and restore his bewildered ratings, but he has obviously failed.

This is happening against the backdrop of an economic crisis. France's public debt has already reached 3.1 trillion euros, accounting for 110 percent of the country's GDP, with debt service alone costing 60 billion euros annually. Under such circumstances, holding such an expensive event is an extravagant political whim of Macron, who is clinging to power and trying to use this event to boost his ratings.

It was originally claimed that the budget for the Olympic Games in France would be $6.7 billion, but now it has been revealed that the budget has surpassed $12 billion. For an event involving 10,000 athletes, such a huge expenditure raises questions.

When the European Games were held in Azerbaijan 9 years ago with 5,000 athletes, Azerbaijan was reproached for spending $1 billion, although the actual operational costs were less than $200 million. Even the inflated sum of $1 billion is a pittance compared to what France is spending at the current Olympics, where there are only twice as many athletes as there were in Baku 9 years ago.

Such exaggerated budgets for the French Olympics suggest corruption and misappropriation, implicating Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, and the dictatorial regime of Macron, who will have to answer for these machinations.

Logistical & security failures

The logistical and security failures during the Olympics culminated in a satanic gay show organized during the official opening ceremony of the Games. According to reliable sources, the opening script, with its most grotesque and offensive scenes to the sensibilities of the entire Christian world and any believer, was actually dictated by a gay couple in the French government - Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné, who are ‘husband’ and ‘wife’.

International political boycott

These Olympic Games were also held in an atmosphere of unspoken international political boycott. It is enough to look at the list of countries whose leaders did not attend: the US, China, Britain, Italy, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Brazil, etc.

Of the Muslim countries, only the leadership of Qatar was present. Latin America ignored the Olympics in France altogether. This is the outcome of Macron's gay show. By the way, Lady Gaga once performed at the opening of the European Games in Azerbaijan and did the same in France, a country with a brutal neo-colonial policy in its overseas territories, yet Gaga is not criticized for this as she was for performance in Azerbaijan.

‘A feast in time of plague‘ - against the background of the events in Gaza, where 40,000 people were killed, 16,000 of them children; the war in Ukraine, where, according to Western official estimates, the number of victims on both sides is more than 1 million people, and this in the center of Europe! And against the background of all these tragedies, a disgusting gay show is organized at the opening of the French Olympics.

Olympic charter & its principles

The fundamental principle of the Olympic Charter states:

“Recognising that sport occurs within the framework of society, sports organizations within the Olympic Movement shall apply political neutrality. They have the rights and obligations of autonomy, which include freely establishing and controlling the rules of the sport, determining the structure and governance of their organizations, enjoying the right of elections free from any outside influence, and the responsibility for ensuring that principles of good governance are applied.”

“The mission of the IOC is to promote Olympism throughout the world and to lead the Olympic Movement. The IOC’s role is: (…) to oppose any political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes.”

These principles have been recognized and supported repeatedly by several resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly in recent years, including expressly “acknowledging the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter” (A/RES/78/10 – Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal from November 2023).

Alas, France also violated them…