Paris Olympics on High Alert: Unprecedented Security Measures Implemented

Argentina’s opening men’s football match was marred by chaos, and a scouting scandal aimless the women’s football tournament, setting a concerning tone for the Paris Olympics. Here’s a summary of Thursday’s events, just one day before the Opening Ceremony at the Olympics.

Argentina’s soccer coach, Javier Mascherano strongly condemned the problematic end of their match against Morocco, describing it as “the biggest circus I’ve ever seen in my life”. Argentina thought they had earned a draw in extra time, but the goal was disallowed for offside by VAR. The situation aggravated when a pitch invasion led to a nearly two-hour suspension of the game.      

The women’s football tournament was thrown into disorder after New Zealand complained against Canada for using drones to spy on their training sessions,sparking a scandal. FIFA has Initiated disciplinary actions and Canada Football has given an open review regarding the issue. Coach Bev Priestman apologized and stepped down from the beginning match duties, taking full accountability. New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell has called on FIFA to explain the matter. 

Tensions between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the U.S Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) have increased over a prolonged dispute regarding the handling of a case involving 23 Chinese swimmers. WADA plans to take USADA before the Independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) next month, which could threaten the U.S’s chances of hosting the 2028 Summer Games and the 2034 Winter Olympics. Reports from The New York Times and German broadcaster ARD revealed that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) in 2021 but still competed in the Tokyo Olympics. USADA chief Travis Tygart has accused WADA of covering up the issue, while U.S law enforcement has pursued the case under the American Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act. WADA argues that the U.S’s Unilateral actions undermine global anti-doping regulations, whereas USADA perceives WADA’s move as retaliatory.

France is gearing up for its largest security operation since World War ll for Friday’s Opening Ceremony. An extensive security perimeter has been set up along the River Seine, with 45,000 police officers, thousands of soldiers, and private security personnel assigned to safeguard the ceremony and the sporting events throughout Paris. On Thursday morning, a bridge in central Paris was briefly closed for a police minesweeper, leading to commuter frustration. Thousands of athletes are set to parade along a 6-kilometer stretch of the Seine in a highly secure and unprecedented opening ceremony.