I

srael has sent a team to the
Olympics every year since
1952, except for 1980 when
the country joined a U.S. boy-
cott of the Russian Olympics.
Despite being from a relatively
small country with a popu-
lation of 9.6 million, Israeli
athletes have won 13 Olympic
medals. This year, 88 Israeli
athletes will compete in 15
individual sports at the Paris
Olympics; Israelis will also par-
ticipate in the Paralympics. The
2024 Olympics includes 10,500
athletes representing 206
National Olympic Committees.
The 2024 Olympics present
multiple challenges for Israel
— an effort by French pro-Pal-
estinian groups to ban Israel
from the Olympics; increas-
ing antisemitic incidents in
France, and the economic and
psychological impact of the
war against Hamas. However,
the Israeli government views
Israeli participation as a
national morale booster and
has increased the monetary
awards for its athletes who win
Olympic medals.
The Campaign BDS France
and the Association France

Palestine Solidarité have led
an effort to ban Israel from
the Olympics. They cite Israeli
“genocide” and “apartheid”
against Palestinians in Gaza
including the “assassination”
of Palestinian athletic coach-
es and athletic trainers. The
groups also claim that Israel
has transformed Palestinian
youth and sports centers into
detention and torture sites and
that 400,000 people across the

world have signed a petition
to ban Israel from interna-
tional athletic competitions.
However, the International
Olympic Committee rejected
the movement to ban Israel,
and its team will participate
among 10,500 athletes from
206 participating nations.
France has experienced a
300% increase in antisemitic
incidents since Israeli forc-
es entered Gaza in October

Israeli Olympic flag bearers: Andrea Murez, swimming, and
Peter Paltchik, judo.

OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF ISRAEL

ERETZ

42 | JULY 25 • 2024
J
N

Despite special challenges, Israeli athletes look forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite special challenges, Israeli athletes look forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Paris, Here They Come

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Israeli
Athletes Will
Participate in
These Olympic
Sports:
• Archery
• Artistic swimming
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Cycling
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Football (soccer)
• Gymnastics
• Judo
• Sailing
• Shooting
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Taekwondo
• Triathlon

Israeli Olympic logo