Handbeat refused: Judoka in Paris ensure controversy

Handbeat refused: Judoka in Paris ensure controversy

Paris

-The judo competition at the Olympic Games in Paris is overshadowed by political tensions. An incident throws a light on the challenges in front of which athletes are in the middle of international conflicts.

political tensions in sport

The Olympic Games in Paris 2024 are not only a competition of the best athletes, but also a scene of international tensions. In a recent incident, the Moroccan judoka Abderrahmane Bouthita refused his Israeli opponent Baruch Shmailov after her competition. This happened in the weight class up to 66 kilograms and was announced by the Israeli Judo Association on Instagram. Such actions raise questions about the role of sport in geopolitical contexts.

The relevance of the incident

The incident should not be considered isolated. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had already issued a warning before the games to avoid discriminatory behavior, especially in view of the conflict in the Gaza strip. The area of ​​sport is often a stage on which political arguments are fought out, and this incident is another example of how athletes can be under pressure to find balance between their sporting integrity and their political position.

competition and disqualifications

But also outside of this incident there was a significant disqualification that influenced the competition. The Algerian Judoka Messaoud Redouane Dris was suspended up to 73 kilograms of up to 73 kilograms before his fight because he did not comply with the weight limit. His planned opponent would have been the Israeli Toohar Butbul, which the sports community followed with a high tension. Such incidents are not unusual because they reflect the immense pressure situation under which athletes are.

The importance of handshake

In the judo tradition, shaking hands is not mandatory after the fight, but a bow is expected. Memories of previous events become awake, such as the exclusion of the Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine from the last games because he did not want to participate for political reasons. In 2016, Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby did not shake an Israeli opponent, which led to controversy. Such actions show how complex and sensitive the connections between sport and politics are.

protective measures for the Israeli delegation

The security of the Israeli athletes is taken seriously in Paris. The French police showed presence around the clock to protect the Israeli delegation. This illustrates the challenges with which international sporting events are confronted when political conflicts smoke in the background.

The incident shows how sport is a reflection of complex social and political realities. While the competitive spirit emphasizes those who want to do their best, geopolitical tensions bring challenges with them that make it increasingly difficult to consider sport as a neutral space.

- Nag