The Olympic Games is the biggest international multi-event sport in the world. Which has its legacy. A normal athlete becomes a global star overnight after winning medals here. The Olympics give name, fame, money, etc. to winners.
It changes the lifestyle of a normal athlete. Not Only athletes but a country also comes in trending global highlights. when its athletes do incredible things and show their phenomenal games to the world. But sometimes the Olympics come in highlights due to some unwanted controversies.
There is a long history of undesirable events with the Olympics. It started in 1904 when USA’s marathon runner Frederick Lorz reached the finish line first. and was about to be awarded a gold medal. But suddenly, it revealed that he did not complete his marathon. He used a car mid-way to cover the distance.
In the last stage of the marathon, he re-joined the race and was declared winner, unfortunately. Like this, there are many unfortunate events. including drug use by athletes, terror attacks, referee wrong decisions, shoes thrown into judges tables, child rapists representing his nation, etc.
These are some more shameful things that happened during the Olympics. As The Olympic Games 2024 Paris ended on 11 August, we are here to discuss the latest controversies that have happened in this edition of The Olympic
Women Boxers Controversy Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting
This controversy started with a match between Imane Khelif of Algeria and her Italian opponent Angela Carini. Who withdrew from their bout in 45 seconds. Angela Carina claims that Imane Khelif hit her nose so hard that her nose was broken.
She also claims that hitting this type of powerful punch is not possible for a female athlete. Back in 2023, Imane Khelif and Lin Yun-Ting of Taiwan were disqualified from the women’s world championship due to gender eligibility issues.
In a DNA test, it found that both athletes had XY chromosomes, which declared them biologically male. but The IOC clarified that these athletes were not involved in transgender cases. But after Khelif’s match with Angela, this incident sparks many debates.
The Controversial Disqualification due to 100 grams overweight
This controversy began before the final match of Indian women’s wrestler Vinesh Phogat. On the morning of Vinesh Phogat’s final match, IOC officials measured her weight.
which found 100 grams upper than the limit of 50 kg. On that time, she was declared disqualified from the Olympics. Not only for her final match but also for all 3 matches which she won the day before.
This controversy started when a few people said that, as per the rules, the IOC makes good Decisions. while Others want justice for Vinesh as they are asking for at least a silver medal for him. because she reached the final match under 50 kg weight Category.
Olympic Australian Hockey team athlete arrested
This shameful incident happened when an Australian hockey team member named Thomas Craig got arrested. when he was trying to buy cocaine. The alleged buyer and seller are both taken into custody by the Paris police unit. Later, according to the Australian Association Press Craig accepted his terrible mistake.
He takes full responsibility with full embarrassment and is truly sorry. The Australian Olympic Committee later released a statement saying Thomas Craig lost his Olympic privileges and moved out of the athlete village.
Athletes Kicked out of the Olympic Village
In this list, there is not only one athlete, but there are two athletes who were kicked out of the Olympic Village. One is swimmer Luana Alonsa who is a specialist in the 100 M butterfly. In her debut Olympics, it was not her game performance that made highlights for the athletes, but her alleged behavior caused controversy for her.
Antim Panghal Tragedy
Later, the Paraguayan Olympic committee asked her to immediately leave the Olympic village.
The second athlete from India who joined this shameful list. Wrestler Antim Panghal gave her Olympic accreditation card to her sister to enter the Olympic village illegally.
In her last bout, she lost the match and felt ill, so she was admitted to the hospital. After treatment, she came back to the hotel where she stayed. She gave her accreditation card to her sister to take back her luggage from the Olympic Village.
However, her sister Enters the game village, and when she tries to come out from there, she is caught by authorities. Antim’s sister Nisha Panghal is taken into custody for some time by the Paris police.
But when the Indian Olympic Association interferes in the matter then she is released from custody after giving her warning. After this incident, IOA gave the order to Antim, leaving Paris with her brother, sister, and coach.
Not athletes have the reason behind controversies. but the French authority of the Olympic Village also takes part in it. when many athletes complain about the living conditions of rooms in the village.
About rooms, athletes say there is heat, no proper bed and AC. These things became more prominent when an Italian gold medalist was spotted sleeping in the park.
He is struggling to sleep in the room due to heat and noise. Indian Olympic Association also provides more than 40 foldable ACs to Indian athletes for better air conditioning in their bedrooms.
Conclusion
In the Olympic games, every time, a few shameful things happen. Sometimes, the reason belongs to athletes or hosting authorities and at the same time, the political reason behind it.
As always, the Paris Olympics 2024 also did not go untouched by controversies. Few things must have been stopped from involving in the games. We hope The Olympic Games of 2028 in Los Angeles does not face issues that are happening in Paris.
