Olympic games have been no stranger to controversy, and this year’s event hasn’t been any different. From gender debates to questioned victories, let us check out the 5 most controversial moments of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Top controversy moments in Paris Olympics 2024
Sex offender
A 29-year-old beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old girl when he was 19. The Olympics have drawn criticism following his inclusion in the Netherlands team for Paris, with van de Velde staying in a secret location rather than the athletes’ village.
Gender debate
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif found herself in the midst of controversy last Thursday after Italian fighter Angela Carini abandoned her bout with Khelif less than a minute after it started. Although questions about Khelif’s gender continue to swirl online, it has been revealed that Khelif was born a woman. Later on, Khelif went on to win the gold medal at the mega event.
River Siene illness
Triathlon training in the River Seine cancelled for two consecutive days because of the water quality. It followed growing concerns over the high levels of sewage in the water in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics. A Belgian athlete was forced to pull out of the triathlon, after reportedly contracting E.coli.
Hijab Ban
An Egyptian Olympic volleyball duo went viral following a decision to defiantly compete fully clothed in the Olympic Games, despite a hijab ban France has imposed on its own athletes. The announcement had led to huge controversy, but one of the players, Doaa Elghobashy, defended her decision to play with the hijab rather than a bikini like her Spanish opponents.
