Although the International Olympic Committee (IOC) claims that the Olympics are politically neutral, focusing on the unifying power of sport and prohibiting political statements by participants, the Games have historically mirrored the geopolitical tensions of their time and served as a platform for broader global debates.
With the world stage in a state of turbulence and uncertainty, the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris promise to be no different. With two major conflicts absorbing international attention in Ukraine and Gaza and divergent global views on governance, culture, and economics, this year’s Games carry notable political undertones.
Politicized origins
The politicization of the Olympics, particularly in relation to foreign affairs, is nothing new. Geopolitical undertones have colored the Olympics since their inception in antiquity. During the Games, the Olympic truce (Greek: ekecheiría) was declared. The quarrelsome Greek city-states paused their habitual fighting to allow athletes, spectators, and religious pilgrims to travel to Olympia to safely enjoy the customary sporting events and religious ceremonies.
The Olympic truce of ancient Greece did not prevent the event from becoming an arena for geopolitical competition. As the most important athletic and cultural event in the ancient Greek world, representatives from rival city-states vied to promote their interests and assert dominance through athletic prowess.
The Games also facilitated the spread of Hellenic culture, and several Olympian champions successfully founded colonies overseas, relying on their fame to entice settlers to join them.
The modern Olympics as an arena for geopolitics
After its modern revival, the Olympics once again became a reflection of the zeitgeist. Political, economic, and social undercurrents have been observable throughout the history of the modern Games.
One of the most infamous examples is when the Olympics were hosted in 1936 by Nazi Germany. Berlin had been chosen to host the Games before the Nazis coming into power, but Hitler’s government leveraged the Olympics for propaganda purposes, signaling Germany’s return to prominence after its humiliation and isolation following WWI.
In 1980, the Olympics again became a focal point of geopolitical tensions when the United States spearheaded a boycott of the Moscow Summer Olympic Games to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in late 1979. A total of 65 nations opted out of the event, while 80 countries chose to send their athletes to compete.
The Olympics provide hosts with political opportunities
The political dynamics of the Olympics are typically most acutely felt by the host nation. For France, there are important domestic and international political factors to consider.
Having narrowly survived several crises and challenges to his leadership, French President Emmanuel Macron will be hoping to present the Paris Olympics as a showcase of French unity and cultural achievement.
Macron will be equally keen to woo an international audience. By hosting prestigious events such as the Olympics, nations can enhance their soft power. This entails the use of a country’s cultural and economic strengths to build influence on the world stage rather than more coercive means like military force.
“Paris 2024 is about fostering a deep connection between Paris and its global audience and elevating the city’s image to match its Olympic aspirations,” said Anaïs Guillemané Mootoosamy, a leading strategy director behind the aesthetics of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In practice, the cultural and diplomatic components of the Olympics—such as the ceremonies, festivals, and interactions among officials—offer nations a platform for public diplomacy. These opportunities allow countries to showcase their values, promote foreign policy goals, strengthen relationships, and boost their global influence.
Geopolitical tensions on display at the Olympics
As much as the IOC may wish to present the Olympics as politically neutral, simmering geopolitical tensions are clearly on display at the 2024 Paris Games.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus have been barred from competing in team sports because of the war in Ukraine. The only way for athletes to compete from these countries is by passing a two-stage vetting procedure established by the IOC. Those who have passed have been allowed to compete as “neutral” athletes.
The Russian media has been deeply critical of the Paris Olympics, pouring scorn on the organizers for their presentation of the event and decision to bar Russian athletes. On the other side of the fence, the IOC has been criticized for allowing any Russian athletes to compete at all under a neutral banner.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has also been a point of contention and controversy. The Palestinian team has called on the IOC to ban Israel from the Games this year, arguing that Israel has violated the Olympic charter.
No such ban has been issued, but Israeli athletes have faced jeers and boos from crowds at some events. Police escorts have reportedly been provided to Israeli athletes traveling to sporting venues.
The so-called “Culture Wars” have also been fought out on the Olympic stage, pitting conservative and progressive values against one another. The opening ceremony in Paris was heavily criticized by some Christians and conservatives, as it appeared to depict a scene from the Last Supper but with drag queens and LGBTQ representatives replacing Jesus and the Apostles.
Some progressives have defended the scene as an expression of freedom of speech, whereas others have insisted that the ceremony did not depict the Last Supper but was instead meant to show Dionysus from Greek mythology. Meanwhile, the IOC has apologized, stating that “there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group.”
Although the glamour of the Olympic Games is a far cry from the battlefields of Ukraine or Gaza, and its supposed neutrality should banish the “Culture Wars” from athletic discourse, the high visibility and public profile of the Olympics has made it a battleground of ideas since its very inception. With geopolitical tensions on the rise and the transcendence of cultural battles beyond national borders, these fault lines were bound to be on display at the Paris Olympics.
