With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, excitement is giving way to uncertainty as a new controversy threatens the grand opening ceremony. Will this latest issue cast a lasting shadow over the games? With the world holding its breath, the stakes have never been higher for both athletes and organizers. “It wouldn’t be France without the potential for a strike,” quipped a CBS news reporter. The finishing touches are being made in the Garden of Versailles, where several events are slated to be held. 

France is gearing up to host the Olympics, with purple tracks laid out and the Olympic rings adorning the Eiffel Tower, generating a sense of global excitement and anticipation. However, beneath the grandeur and celebration lies an undercurrent of political unrest. For months, the French public has been uneasy about hosting the Olympics. Budgetary and environmental concerns have been escalating, and now the largest union in France is threatening to go on strike.

Paname 24 accused of underpaying performers

In a recent CBS News coverage on Youtube, it was revealed that there are anticipated problems in the smooth execution of the Paris Olympics. Dancers for the opening ceremony have threatened to strike after discovering several inconsistencies in their contracts. The strike was officially announced by the SFA-CGT union, the largest union representing performers and entertainers in France, on July 18, with the strike date set for the Olympics’ opening day, July 26.

A second date has been set for August 28, coinciding with the opening ceremony for the Paralympic Games. “It might, it might not (go into strike),” said the CBS news correspondent, “Usually they do this as a way of drawing attention to the situation and looking for some kind of deal.” The SFA-CGT union accused the organizing body, Paname 24, of “blatant inequalities of treatment” among the performers for the unique opening ceremony on the Seine River. Approximately 250 to 300 dancers were recruited, facing inadequate reimbursement and limited information about their rights concerning payment and bonuses. The disparities were stark, with some dancers expecting €60 and others €1610.

Furthermore, discrepancies in housing and accommodation exists between Parisian local artists and their non-Parisian counterparts. This is not the only tension brewing. According to human rights organizations, some Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to participate in this year’s Olympics despite expressing anti-Ukrainian sentiments while competing under the Russian Olympic Committee banner. Global Rights Compliance, an NGO, has documented violations of the Olympic Committee’s neutrality rule regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“At least half” of the Individual Neutral Athletes have been found to have military connections, have liked social media posts condoning the invasion, and have voiced their support publicly. Consequently, the IOC is being urged to reassess the eligibility of these athletes. However, the IOC has stated that banning athletes based solely on nationality could create new issues. This year, the Olympics will be particularly complicated from a political standpoint.

French citizens raise concerns ahead of the Paris Olympics

The Paris Olympics has stirred significant concern among the French public for some time. Reportedly, $1.5 million has been spent to clean up the Seine River, where the swimming triathlon and marathon events are to be held, despite the threat of E.Coli. Despite infrastructural upgrades and the creation of a massive underground storage basin to manage stormwater, heavy rainfall can cause intermixing with contaminated wastewater, spiking bacteria levels.

Though Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and other French officials took a dip in the River Seine on Wednesday, organizations like Eau de Paris have warned about the river’s pollution levels. Tests conducted between September and March by the Surfrider Foundation Europe, using samples from the starting point for the Olympic and Paralympic triathlon and marathon swimming events, did not yield favorable results. This raises the threat of many swimming events being canceled at the Olympics.

Furthermore, Frenchmen are concerned about the estimated costs of the Olympics. With a projected budget of $8 billion to $10 billion, concerns about budget overruns due to inflation and unforeseen expenses persist. Historical instances of the Olympics straining other countries’ economies have heightened these alarms. Three-time Olympic champion and Paris 2024 president, Tony Estanguet, admitted that the margin for maneuver is “more and more cramped.” Despite these challenges, there is hope that the Paris Games will proceed smoothly as they have in the past. Hosting the Olympics is a great honor for any country, and France as a whole is eagerly anticipating the spectacle.