Institute for Political and International Studies- The presence of Israeli security forces contradicts the Spirit of the Olympics

The presence of Israeli security forces contradicts the Spirit of the Olympics

There is just a month until the beginning of the ۲۰۲۴ Paris Olympics and athletes are getting their last allocation for the Olympics. The French security services have formed partnerships with ۴۶ countries trying to secure the safety of the matches. In addition to the French security protocols Israel[۱] and the United States will send their own security forces to France in order to protect their athletes during the Games[۲]. Israel which would be in charge of security for the games massacred almost ۳۵۰۰۰ people during the eight-month-long Gaza conflict half of whom were women and children[۳]. The shocking aspect is the fact that Israeli security personnel who are involved in this genocide are providing protection for the Olympics. Considering that the Olympic Games primary goals are to safeguard human rights promote international unity and provide equal opportunities for all their presence at the event is an obvious contradiction.

22 July 2024

Behnam Khosravi

Introductory

There is just a month until the beginning of the 2024 Paris Olympics, and athletes are getting their last allocation for the Olympics. The French security services have formed partnerships with 46 countries, trying to secure the safety of the matches. In addition to the French security protocols, Israel[1] and the United States will send their own security forces to France in order to protect their athletes during the Games[2]. Israel, which would be in charge of security for the games, massacred almost 35,000 people during the eight-month-long Gaza conflict, half of whom were women and children[3]. The shocking aspect is the fact that Israeli security personnel, who are involved in this genocide, are providing protection for the Olympics. Considering that the Olympic Games' primary goals are to safeguard human rights, promote international unity, and provide equal opportunities for all, their presence at the event is an obvious contradiction.

Assuming this, is it moral to let Israeli security forces protect athletes during the 2024 Olympics? Does the existence of these forces align with the Olympic concept? Isn't their participation in providing security for the Olympics opposed to the purpose of these events? All of these questions are being asked while these forces are committing genocide in Gaza right now.

The Olympics help to create an ethical society.

Ever since the inception of the Olympics in 776 BC[4], the Olympic Games have been designed as a philosophy of life away from war and based on constructive competition[5]. It was the ancient Greek rulers that instituted ceasefires in wars during the Olympics[6]. A tradition that demonstrates how human society is progressing toward peace and harmony. The Olympics have been revived in modern times with the same goals: to protect human rights and create a peaceful world. The government's attempts have always been to make the Olympics a symbol of a utopia filled with peace and compassion. A problem that the world community requires now more than ever. Destructive wars and injustice are the realities that human society faces today. Cruelty and human rights violation, Such as the right to life are widespread throughout the world, and the Olympics have the power to reawaken consciousness in people.

Security and the Spirit of the Olympics

The security of the competitions is always a top priority for the Olympic host. Regardless of discrimination, it is critical to work toward forming a broad coalition in order to protect the safety of the athletes and the spectators who enjoy sharing seats and watching exciting sports. In order to guarantee the security of the festivities, France has started to establish a coalition with 46 other countries. A coalition that could be taken as a metaphor for humanity's efforts to build a world of peace, friendship, and equality.

According to published reports, Israel is responsible for providing a significant portion of the Paris Olympics' security on both direct and indirect levels. At the direct level, Israel is a member of the alliance created by France. However, the most relevant aspect in this context is Israel's indirect involvement in Olympic security via a multinational security consultancy company. So the goal of embracing peace is undermined by the ISDS security company's and Israeli security forces' participation in the Olympics.

Israel and its objections to the Olympic concept

The presence of Israel, one of the main violators of human rights, in providing security for the Olympics is a terrible human dilemma. Rumors have emerged that the French government is considering giving the security firm ISDS control over the Paris Olympic Games' security. ISDS is an Israeli private security company, and its president and founder, Leo Glaser[7], is a former[8] Israeli army officer[9]. ISDS Security Company provides comprehensive, integrated, and multidimensional security plans for governments and non-governmental organizations at national and international events, with a focus on cyber security, human force training, and global sports competition security. This company is one of the most prominent security contractors for the 2024 Olympics, having already been selected for the Rio 2016[10] and Tokyo 2020 Olympics[11].

Nonetheless, the aspirational goals of the Olympics are violated by France's request to Israel for assistance in game security and the sending of military personnel to Paris. The genocide and humanitarian disaster in Gaza is caused by the same Israeli armed forces. On the flip side, Israel's extensive discrimination against Palestinians is a symbol of horrible apartheid.

The daily bombing of hospitals, schools, and refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, as well as the denial of humanitarian supplies to Gaza's children and women, constitutes a severe human rights violation. The presence of these soldiers in the Olympic security administrative structure goes against the humanitarian goals of the Olympic . In fact, the presence of the security corporation ISDS as well as Israeli security troops allows Israel to evade the consequences of its apartheid system against Palestinians.

Conclusion

The Olympics should take place in an environment free from prejudice and inequality, as they are one of the emblems of a world without war. The Olympics are considered one of the most important human efforts to establish a perfect society. The Israeli security forces' involvement in security issue management might now be seen as a harsh irony that undercuts the games' humanitarian objectives in light of the slaughter committed by the Israeli military and security forces in Gaza.

Israel's security and military forces are participating in these events in an attempt to whitewash human rights violations in the Gaza Strip. The French government should not allow Israel to use the Olympics to mask human rights violations and genocide in Gaza from the international community.

Behnam Khosravi

(The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the IPIS)

[1]https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/39831772/france-asks-46-countries-help-paris-olympics-security

[2]https://www.reuters.com/world/france-boost-olympics-security-with-foreign-military-police-support-2024-03-29/

[3]https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240512-gaza-death-toll-surpasses-35000-amid-israeli-onslaught/

[4] https://www.penn.museum/sites/olympics/olympicorigins.shtml

[5] https://www.penn.museum/sites/olympics/olympicorigins.shtml

[6] https://olympics.com/ioc/olympic-truce

[7] https://www.thejc.com/news/world/israeli-firm-to-oversee-security-at-olympics-g3chr60l

[8] https://maki.org.il/en/?p=9100

[9]https://www.haaretz.com/2006-03-30/ty-article/jewish-cowboy/0000017f-df0d-d3ff-a7ff-ffad51f70000

[10] https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-security-co-ready-for-rio-olympics-1001142963