The Olympic Games: An Illusory Peace?

For 30 years, the United Nations has declared a truce during the Olympic Games, starting seven days before the Games and ending seven days after the Paralympics. The symbols of the Olympic Games bring together continents and the world. But is it enough?

A national truce?

These Paris 2024 Games were supposed to turn into a complete fiasco and expose the problems of French society to the world. Many French people even hoped for it. The French political situation after the legislative elections resembled chaos, a war zone where all parties seemed ready to do anything to bring down the other. However, these Olympic Games have established a semblance of peace in French politics, allowing the French to think about something else. The French themselves seem to have come together to enjoy these historic Games and support their nation. Many French people are even learning to love Paris again, where the ambient climate has calmed down. The French flag is finally managing to bring the French together and not divide them as the extremists seem to want. The French are proud to see an athlete, regardless of their origin, win a medal for France.

This peace in the political landscape seems however very ephemeral. Some politicians seem indeed not to be able to live without dividing the French. Some, like Éric Zemmour, quickly spoke out after the incredible victories of Léon Marchand, but did not have a single word for the French judo team, even though they were also Olympic champions. On the other hand, LFI supporters like Mathilde Panot, Manon Aubry and others did not support the athletes. Sébastien Delogu congratulated the judo team by highlighting the fact that racists must have the "seum". Why want to highlight the skin color of the athletes and not the champions that they are? This peace that has been established among the French unfortunately seems ephemeral because it does not benefit many politicians who cannot reign without dividing. However, this truce among the French is a source of hope, showing us that we can be united, regardless of our pasts, religions or others.

And internationally?

It is known that geopolitics in the world are currently tense. The Olympic truce therefore seemed to come at the best of times. The Olympic Games and their athletes must represent peace. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, highlighted the role of the latter. He stressed the responsibility of athletes who are “part of something bigger than themselves”, adding that they are participating in an event that “unites the world in peace”. These Paris 2024 Olympic Games have given us a glimpse of what our world could be like where we can be united. For example, we saw a selfie between Chinese, South Korean and North Korean table tennis players during the medal ceremony of the mixed doubles table tennis event. For some athletes too, sport is only secondary. Some Ukrainian athletes such as Zoriana Nevmerzhytska highlighted the fact that these Olympic Games were in a way an opportunity for them to prove to the world that Ukraine still exists and to give hope to the population.

However, in today's world it is impossible to have any illusions about the impact that the Olympic Games have on global geopolitics. Mark Adams, director of communications, has no illusions about this. The latter had declared that they could not bring peace. "We can ask for it but probably not establish it," he added. The truce of the Olympic Games is not respected between Israel and Hamas or even Iran after the assassination of the leader of the Palestinian party on its soil says it is ready to attack Israel at any time. Concerning Ukraine and Russia, both camps refused the call for a truce launched by Emmanuel Macron before the Olympic Games. The situation thus remains extremely tense in the world and the Olympic Games ultimately have almost no power over the world.

The Olympic Games are not a factor of peace, they are a factor of hope. It is naive to think that a sporting event, no matter how important, could put an end to the conflicts we know in a certain period of time. However, they are the possibility of giving us hope. They show us that we can live together whether it is within our society or in the world. They give us the courage to fight for our ideals and to bring people together beyond borders. The goal of the Olympic Games is to prove to us that once again, hope is the last to die.