PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron said on April 3 that he had no doubt Russia would malevolently target the Paris Olympics this summer.
“I have no doubt whatsoever, including in terms of information,” he said, in response to a question about whether he thought that Russia would try to target the July 26-Aug 11 Olympics.
His comments, delivered at an event in Paris for the inauguration of the Olympics aquatics centre, represent his most explicit acknowledgment to date of foreign threats to the security or smooth running of the Games.
The Games will take place amid a complex global backdrop, with Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza complicating efforts to safeguard the Olympics.
Mr Macron has in past months adopted a tougher stance against Russia, vowing that Moscow must be defeated, and has not ruled out that European troops may one day go to Ukraine, although he has made clear that France has no intention of instigating hostilities against Russia.
His government has also adopted a tougher line against alleged Russian disinformation efforts across Europe.
Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said France will propose European Union-wide level sanctions on those behind spreading disinformation amid what Paris sees as growing efforts by Russia to destabilise the bloc.
Meanwhile, Hidilyn Diaz, the first and only Olympic gold medallist from the Philippines, vowed on April 4 to continue in weightlifting just hours after failing to qualify for a fifth consecutive Games.
Diaz, 33, was beaten in the IWF World Cup 59kg class in Thailand late on April 3 by 25-year-old compatriot Elreen Ando, who secured a Paris weightlifting berth for the Philippines after finishing seventh with a total of 228kg.
Only one athlete per country can qualify in any weight division and Diaz, who won gold at Tokyo in the now-scrapped 55kg division, finished 11th on 222kg after failing with her final two clean-and-jerk attempts to match Ando’s total.
Diaz has lifted at every Olympics since Beijing in 2008 but will be 37 when the Los Angeles Games take place in 2028.
“I will still lift, but I’m not sure for the next Olympics,” she said via Facebook Messenger.
“Right now, I have to enjoy the moment. I will pursue what I have started, training and serving our athletes in the future,” she said, revealing she would open her own sports academy soon.
Diaz has struggled since stepping up to the heavier 59kg class where she faces naturally bigger athletes. Ando competed in the 64kg class in Tokyo.
The event, the final Olympic weightlifting qualifier, was won by China’s Luo Shifang with a world record of 248kg, a massive 24kg more than Diaz hoisted to win Olympic gold three years ago.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said it was “unfortunate that Diaz missed the record of having five consecutive appearances in Olympics”.
Both Diaz and Ando were “not in their natural weight class”, he said, adding that her training for the Phuket qualifiers had been hampered by an injury, without giving details. REUTERS, AFP
