Olympics Committee Faces Fire From United Nations as Women’s Rights Becomes Hot-Bed of Debate Ahead of Paris 2024

In July 2024, the next big games will begin. Top-notch sportspersons from all around the world will showcase their talents on the soil of Paris to clinch a medal for their country. In this event, which will be held from July 26 to August 11, 700 competitions will take place. However, prior to this highly anticipated event, the Olympics authorities have faced severe backlash.

After banning alcohol for the fans at the stadium, the authorities have decided to bring another change that affects the female athletes looking forward to participating in the event. Amid adding this new rule, the Olympic committee has faced a severe backlash from the United Nations as women’s rights became a debated issue ahead of the event.

Olympics Authorities facing backlash

On Tuesday, the French authorities faced staunch criticism from the United Nations. After the administration decided to ban French athletes from wearing the hijab at the 2024 Olympics, the UN expressed its opposition to the decision. According to a report by CNN, the United Nations human rights officer Maria Hurtado, while highlighting the freedom of women’s choice, stated, “No one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear, or not wear.” According to Hurtado, to eliminate discrimination at this event, the country must modify the measures following the “cultural or social patterns that are based on the idea of inferiority or superiority of either sex.”

Furthermore, while highlighting the discriminatory practices that can prevail amid this decision, Hurtado revealed that, according to the United Nations, expressing religious beliefs is only unacceptable under specific conditions. If the beliefs or attire “act as a legitimate threat to public safety, public health, or morals in a necessary fashion,” such rules can be applicable.

This statement comes after French sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra announced the ban on French athletes on Sunday. According to the minister who claims to bring in the public’s service neutrality with this decision, she argues in favor of “applying a strict regime of secularism in the field of sports.”

Interestingly, since being announced as the destination for the global sporting event, this is not the first time the French authorities have faced backlash. In June, the authorities announced a new policy banning alcohol for the fans at the event, leading to the upsetting of many fans.

Fans banned from drinking alcohol at the event

Prior to the big games, the Paris authorities decided to ban alcohol. The average spectator will now not be able to witness the athletes showcase extraordinary performances while enjoying their choice of drink at the event. However, interestingly, the same rule does not apply to everyone attending the event. The VIPs who will be provided with the best seats at the event will be allowed to drink alcohol. The authorities defended this decision under French law, Evin’s law. According to this law set in 1991, alcohol is not for sale at French stadiums.

Also read: Ahead of Paris Olympics, French Government Makes a $16,000,000 Worth Exciting Decision for Fans

In essence, ahead of the Paris 2024, the authorities have found themselves in hot waters quite frequently. However, the fans are still girded up to support their favorite athletes as they await for them to stand atop the podium after striking their magic on the soil of Paris.

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