Passengers pack the Bordeaux-Saint-Jean train station in Bordeaux, western France, yesterday after France’s high-speed rail network was hit by co-ordinated sabotage attacks, disrupting transport hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Many routes were cancelled and passengers were urged to postpone trips and stay away from train stations. Picture: CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/ AFP
Durban — There were several issues leading to last night’s opening of the Olympics which promised that the Paris Games would take place in a highly charged atmosphere, and sabotage of the French rail system merely fulfilled that promise.
It is to be hoped that the delayed trains will be the worst of the security concerns the Games experience.
Controversy is never far from the Games, and there had already been plenty even ahead of the opening.
The Chinese delegation includes 11 swimmers who tested positive for a banned heart drug. Other countries say they have no confidence in the World AntiDoping Agency investigation which cleared the swimmers to compete.
And there has been controversy on the field – and in the air – at this year’s Games.
First the Morocco vs Argentina soccer match was completed in an empty stadium two hours after players were taken off following a pitch invasion.
And then two staff of the Canadian women’s football team were sent home in disgrace after flying a drone over the New Zealand team’s practice session, ahead of a game between the two nations.
It seems the methods of cheating have just become more sophisticated in line with the technology available at the time.
Also new to the Games is breakdance, prompting questions over what would be next to be admitted as a sport.
From a South African perspective, we wish our 149-strong delegation well over the next two weeks.
While we certainly hope for a better medal haul than the one gold and two silvers earned at Tokyo 2021 (delayed from 2020 because of Covid), and an improvement on the four golds earned at Stockholm 1912 and London 2012, more than that we ask our athletes to compete hard but fair, remembering that the flag on their costumes means they represent the millions back at home, and to keep the pride and dignity of the nation in mind at all times.
Independent on Saturday