Western Azerbaijani Community condemns provocation at Paris Olympics

The Western Azerbaijani Community has strongly condemned the provocative actions against Azerbaijan during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The community issued a statement criticizing the political remarks made by a presenter on the French public TV channel France 2, which represented the teams of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports via the community’s statement.

“During the opening of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, the presenter of French public TV channel France 2, representing the teams of Armenia and Azerbaijan, made political statements of a discriminatory nature, contradicting Olympic values and international law. This step, undoubtedly ordered by the French government, was an attempt to violate the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and inflame tensions in the region,” the statement reads.

The community further criticized the opening ceremony for including "demonstrations of obscenities that offend the dignity of billions of people," questioning the rationality and intentions of the French side.

“The Western Azerbaijani Community strongly condemns the provocation against Azerbaijan at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and demands France put an end to such actions,” the statement concludes.

Background information

The Western Azerbaijani Community is a prominent organization representing Azerbaijani interests and diaspora, particularly those displaced from regions now within Armenia.

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris have already sparked controversy due to various political and social issues, and this incident adds to the growing criticism. Historically, tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been high, particularly over the now-defunct Nagorno-Karabakh region, and such incidents at international events often exacerbate these tensions.

The community's statement underscores the sensitivity and importance of maintaining neutrality and respect for all nations' territorial integrity during global events like the Olympics.