Paris Olympics Slammed for “Social Cleansing,” Mass Displacement, Militarization & Greenwashing
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Published 2024-07-26
Just hours before Friday’s opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics, a series of apparently coordinated arson attacks were reported on France’s high-speed rail network. No one has claimed responsibility yet. Before the games, protests highlighted the displacement of thousands of migrants, unhoused people and other vulnerable communities as “social cleansing.” We go to Paris for an update with Jules Boykoff, former professional soccer player, author and scholar focusing on the Olympic Games, and Paul Alauzy, Paris-based activist with the collective Revers de la Médaille (Other Side of the Medal). “We are not anti-Olympics,” says Alauzy. “You can support the games, but you need to know that they have a big social impact and they come with a cost. And they come with a cost of the lives of hundreds, thousands of people being mistreated.” We also discuss how Palestinian athletes are taking part in this year’s Olympics amid the Israeli war on Gaza, the health risks of competing during rising heat and COVID, the environmental impact of major sporting events and more.
(Video thumbnail image: Kyodo via Reuters Connect)
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All Comments (21)
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These will be the worst Olympics ever... But that's not the problem. This system MUST end.
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Western values - entertainment over human rights.
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The Olympics are just gross on so many levels at this point.
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Ironic: France -as other European countries - became wealthy through the US financing and the colonies in Africa it held ; now, the French political tendency rejects the African immigrants whose countries have been looted for centuries
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Vancouver did that with the homeless during the Winter Olympics.
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Brazil did this, China did this - this is a part of the Olympic process. its not fair but cities and countries fight to hold the games.
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Although official records might differ, I doubt the international community will recognize Israel's participation in the Summer Olympics. Regarding social cleansing and mass deportation associated with the Paris Olympics, this is not a new phenomenon; similar practices have occurred during Olympic events here in the United States as well.
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These two are great. Please have them on again during the games. Paul is just a genuine guy...nice to see his reactions to what Jules is saying.
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The Olympics like, UN, NATO has become a sickness of the social the old world order/ class conscious, and the disgusting cost by the taxpayers. What I hear is not surprising, but sickening.
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Is Russia participating too? What a double standard! Shame on France!
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This has happened in almost in every place the olympics have been held. Would ve great if we could stop this nonsense. Putting money over people all the damn time is just wrong.
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Didn't know Jordan Peterson was on.
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The big joke of the Olympics all in façade.
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If Israel is allowed to participate, the Olympics should be boycotted by all. South Africa was barred for being apartheid, it should be the same for Israel.
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I'm feeling so much better about boycotting the Olimpics for the last few decades 🤔😡
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I absolutely love Paris but I will not go to Olympics in Paris
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Ahh yes, right on schedule, the eventual "social cleansing" ahead of the Olympics, these games that signify unity and peace and, and, and...
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Sounds like what Gavin Newsom is fixing to do to the homeless in California. I’m sure you’ll be reporting on that too, right?
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I simply don’t have the stomach to enjoy sport right now. We postponed Tokyo. I think it’s probably a good idea for Paris, the heart of the climate accords to follow suit and that’s without even considering the spread of international fascism.
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This is why AES(Alliance of Sahel states) is needed. These migrants ran away ultimately due to the effects of France and it's puppets bad leadership in Africa impoverishing everyone,
