Paris Olympics 2024: Discussing the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad”

[UPSC World]

Basics and Facts about Olympics

• The Olympic Games originated in ancient Greece in 776 BC in Olympia, where they were held every 4 years, featuring athletic competitions among representatives of various city-states.
• The modern Olympics were revived by Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France, with the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece, in 1896.
• The Olympic Rings represent the union of the 5 inhabited continents (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania), symbolizing global unity through sports.
• The Winter Olympics were introduced in 1924 in Chamonix, France, featuring sports practiced on snow and ice, like skiing, ice skating, and ice hockey.
• The Olympic Torch Relay was introduced in the 1936 Berlin Games, symbolizing the passing of the flame from ancient Greece to the modern world.
• The number of participating countries has grown from 14 in the 1896 Games to over 200 in recent editions, showcasing the Olympics’ global reach.
• Women were first allowed to compete in the 1900 Paris Olympics, marking a significant milestone in gender equality in sports.
• The Paralympics, for athletes with disabilities, were first held in Rome in 1960, promoting inclusivity and equality in sports.
• The Olympics have been cancelled three times due to war (1916, 1940, and 1944).
• The youngest Olympic medalist was Dimitrios Loundras, a Greek gymnast who won a bronze medal at age 10 in 1896.
• The oldest Olympic medalist was Oscar Swahn, a Swedish shooter who won a bronze medal at age 72 in 1920.

[UPSC World]

Indian participation in Olympics

• India first participated in the Olympics in 1900, with Norman Pritchard being the first Indian athlete to compete.
• India has won a total of 28 Olympic medals, including 10 gold medals, as of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
• Recently, India is sent a strong contingent to the Paris Olympics, with a focus on sports like athletics, wrestling, shooting, and hockey.
• The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is responsible for selecting and managing the Indian contingent for the Olympics.
• The Indian government provides support to Olympic athletes through various initiatives, including the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the Khelo India program.
• Historic Moments: India has created history in the Olympics with moments like:
  • Abhinav Bindra’s gold medal in shooting in 2008.
  • Mary Kom’s bronze medal in boxing in 2012.
  • Sakshi Malik’s bronze medal in wrestling in 2016.
  • Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal in javelin throw in 2020.

[UPSC World]

Paris 2024: A Greener Olympic Games

• The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris aim to be the greenest Games ever, stressing the urgent need to tackle climate change.
• The Earth’s rising temperatures and increasing uninhabitable areas make hosting mega events like the Olympics unsustainable.
• A recent report highlights rapid progress in sports and sustainability since Tokyo 2020, with almost every sports federation focusing on environmental sustainability.
• Paris 2024 targets reducing CO2 emissions by half, aiming for 1.75 million tonnes.
• The Games will use existing buildings for 95% of events, minimizing new construction and environmental impact.
• The Athletes’ Village will utilize geothermal and solar energy, while stadiums will rely on the public electricity grid.
• Paris 2024 will focus on recycling, reusing, and reducing materials, offering plant-based and local foods, and introducing cycle lanes to encourage low-carbon living.
• However, challenges include carbon emissions from air travel and adapting to climate realities, such as installing temporary cooling units due to extreme heat.
• The effectiveness of offsetting projects for air travel emissions is also a concern.
• Despite challenges, Paris 2024’s sustainability initiatives set a positive example for future Olympic Games.

[UPSC World]

The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will make history by having an equal number of men and women competitors, marking the largest gender-equal sporting event.

[UPSC World]

Russian Athletes Banned from 2024 Paris Olympics

• Russian and Belarusian athletes are banned from competing under their national flags at the 2024 Paris Olympics due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and geopolitical tensions.
• They can participate as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs), without representing their country or supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) sanctioned Russia and Belarus for violating the Olympic Truce and politicizing sports.
• AINs will compete under a neutral flag and uniform, with a neutral song played if they win medals.
• The IOC’s decision aims to maintain political neutrality in sports, although critics argue that this concept is subjective and challenging to interpret consistently.
• The Russian Olympic Committee was suspended in October 2023 for declaring authority over Ukrainian sports organizations.
• This is not the first time athletes have competed as neutrals; in 2014, Indian athletes competed under the Olympic flag after the Indian Olympic Association was suspended.
• The Paris Summer Olympics are considered the most geopolitically charged Olympics in decades.

[UPSC World]

The men’s triathlon event at the Paris Olympics 2024 has been postponed due to alarmingly high levels of pollution in the Seine River, which runs through the heart of Paris.

• The Seine River is the second longest river of France, after the Loire.
• It is approximately 777 kilometers (483 miles) long and flows through the heart of Paris, dividing the city into two parts.
• The river’s name “Seine” comes from the ancient Celtic word “Sicauna,” meaning “Sacred River.”
• The Seine River is home to over 100 bridges and footbridges, including the famous Pont des Arts and Pont Neuf.
• Despite its beauty, the Seine River faces environmental challenges like pollution, flooding, and habitat destruction, requiring ongoing conservation efforts to protect its ecosystem and water quality.

[UPSC World]

Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic Disqualification

• Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling final at the Paris Olympics due to failing to meet the weight requirement.
• She weighed in at just over 100 grams above the limit, losing her chance at a confirmed silver medal.
• Vinesh had secured three consecutive victories, including a win over defending champion Yui Susaki, but gained weight during the day, resulting in her disqualification.
• Olympic wrestling weigh-ins take place in the morning, and wrestlers have 30 minutes to make weight on the first day and 15 minutes on the second day.
• The Olympics follow a strict weight restriction without any weight tolerance, unlike other international tournaments.
• Vinesh has struggled to cut weight for the 50kg category, having recently switched from the 53kg category.
• She typically weighs around 55-56 kg and has to cut to 50 kg on competition days, which has proven to be challenging.
• If Vinesh had been injured during the first day, she would have been exempt from the second weigh-in and could have salvaged a silver medal.
• However, since she was not injured, she was disqualified for failing to attend the second weigh-in.
• The incident highlights the challenges and risks associated with weight cutting in combat sports.