The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been marred by controversy and negativity in the eyes of Russia, as the country’s athletes were banned from competing due to their ongoing war in Ukraine. With only 15 Russian athletes participating as „Individual Neutral Athletes,“ the Russian media has taken a critical stance towards the competition, the host country France, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
From the very beginning, the Russian media set a negative tone for their coverage of the Games. The opening ceremony was criticized for featuring a segment with drag queens, which was perceived as mocking Christianity. Russian outlets labeled it as a „scandal“ and a „disgrace,“ with claims that the segment was blasphemous. This set the stage for a series of negative reports on various aspects of the competition.
The Russian media has focused on mismanagement, crime, controversy, and pollution at the event, painting a picture of chaos and negligence on the part of the organizers. Reports of worms in fish served to athletes, a Covid-19 outbreak affecting numerous participants, and concerns over the quality of the water in the River Seine have been highlighted as examples of the alleged mismanagement of the Games.
The lack of Russian involvement in the competition has also been a sore point for the country, as they are not even broadcasting the Games for the first time since 1984. Russia’s ban from international sports competitions due to a state-sponsored doping scheme has further strained their relationship with the sporting world, leading to their exclusion from the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Despite their exclusion, Russia has sought to use the situation to their advantage, framing it as an example of Western Russophobia and an attempt to isolate Moscow from the sporting world. The Russian Foreign Ministry has called on the IOC to change course, while the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service has accused the U.S. of planning to smear Russian athletes with fabricated doping scandals.
Overall, the Russian media’s coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has been overwhelmingly negative, reflecting the country’s bitter relationship with the international sporting community and their exclusion from the competition. Despite their absence, Russian athletes participating as „Individual Neutral Athletes“ have managed to win medals, but the controversy and animosity surrounding their participation continue to overshadow their achievements.