Everyone is eager to witness Simone Biles in action. On Thursday, during her night of triumph and redemption at the Olympics, several prominent figures made an appearance. Zinedine Zidane, Bill Gates, and Stephen Curry were all in attendance at the Bercy Arena, and they were treated to an extraordinary performance, just as they had anticipated.
Biles is the centerpiece of the event, captivating and overshadowing everyone else. She excels effortlessly, leaving competitors behind while igniting the arena with her talent. For one particular spectator, she represented more than just a star, taking us to Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee.
Bach was the one to drape that sixth gold medal around Biles’s neck, sporting a smile that suggested he was onto something significant—after all, the Olympics often serve as a distraction amid crises.
On Thursday, Biles was Bach’s saving grace. As she soared to remarkable heights, concluding her all-around victory at 8:20 PM, he knew well of the controversy swirling in the French capital throughout the week.
It was around 11:30 AM that day when the Italian welterweight Angela Carini decided she could no longer continue. In just 46 seconds alongside Imane Khelif, she chose to prioritize her instinct to ‘preserve my life’ over her aspirations in sports.
USA gymnastics star Simone Biles has caught the attention of everyone at the Paris Olympics
Football legend Zinedine Zidane was there at the Bercy Arena to watch the USA star in action
We have gathered ample information about Khelif and the events that transpired. Specifically, Khelif and Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-Ting were removed from the world championships in March 2023 due to unspecified gender tests indicating they had male XY chromosomes.
Bach was aware of all this context, and the blood on Carini’s shorts could be seen as a symbol of his responsibility. The IOC intervened to oversee boxing here, allowing these athletes to compete.
To follow Bach’s convoluted reasoning, if your passport identifies you as female, then you are female—that seems to be sufficient for him. The extensive scientific understanding developed in this domain over the past decade, particularly highlighted by the Caster Semenya case, appears less significant than the information on one’s travel document. The wind is blowing; why bother peeing into it?
With an abundance of controversies, it’s difficult to assert that these decisions represent the most significant failure during Bach’s 11-year tenure—his long embrace of Vladimir Putin arguably takes that dubious honor—but it was indeed a poor choice. A glaring misstep in prioritizing inclusivity over fairness in a sport where safety is already a major concern, made worse by weak leadership.
Nevertheless, with Biles around, the show continues to shine. This seems to be a common fallback, as the volume of sporting excellence tends to drown out other issues. The IOC appears confident that they can mitigate the outcry with remarkable performances. When Khelif competes in her quarter-finals on Saturday, Biles will have just completed her vault; when Lin enters the ring next on Sunday morning, the likes of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will be preparing for a gold medal match.
Biles is the star and Biles is the show. Biles leaves all in her dust and Biles brings the smoke
Despite my reservations regarding the boxing decision, I know I will primarily remember the thrilling moments, such as the last 400 yards of Alex Yee’s triathlon, Muhamed Aly’s captivating display in handball, Biles soaring gracefully above the floor, Leon Marchand’s triumph in the pool, and Antoine Dupont’s agile feet. I hope to also include Katarina Johnson-Thompson in the heptathlon and Keely Hodgkinson in the 800m on that list.
The Olympics have a unique way of making us appreciate the positive aspects. Yet, this year’s Games will stand as a victory despite the IOC and Bach—not because of their influence.
We must remember this fact. We should advocate for change, acknowledging that the IOC reaps enormous profits from establishing and marketing this grand event, while often retreating behind federations and passports when difficult topics arise.
The IOC’s regulation and influence are notoriously stringent, yet they have displayed a lack of legal finesse to keep abhorrent figures out of events such as the beach volleyball tournament.
They should be mortified by such a failure, having neglected their responsibilities. Yet, they have shown no signs of remorse. Similarly, they ought to be ashamed by other allegations, including claims of threatening to remove Salt Lake City as a host for the 2034 Winter Games if American investigators did not restrict their inquiries into Chinese swimmers and their insufficient drug tests. Not a good look for the IOC.
It was Thomas Bach (pictured on the right) who placed that sixth gold medal around Biles’s neck, and he was beaming the grin of a man who is on to something
An email to reporters two weeks ago detailed the situation surrounding the Russian delegation in Paris, which stated their participation as neutrals depended on an IOC requirement that they refrain from supporting the invasion of Ukraine or maintaining military ties. A human rights group presented the IOC with evidence that two-thirds of the delegation had violated these terms, yet this information appeared to be disregarded.
Such issues struggled to gain attention due to the overwhelming presence of sporting events on the horizon. This can often be the reality during the Games.
I will always find the Olympics featuring Biles, Marchand, and handball to be exceptionally thrilling. Yet, I also realize that certain hard truths are difficult to mask in such a vast event.
However, we can always strive for improvement. It would be wonderful if Bach and his team of detractors could take a step back and perhaps relocate far away.
Farewell Andy Murray and a tribute to Dan Evans
Goodbye to Andy Murray, a true fighter until the end. Many tributes have poured in for him in recent days, but this one goes to his partner, Dan Evans. By skipping the Citi Open in Washington to be at the Olympics, he is expected to drop 110 positions in the world rankings, likely falling outside the top 170.
Competing in the Olympics isn’t an enormous sacrifice, yet his primary motivation was to support Murray, an act that deserves immense respect. Evans was once portrayed as a bit of a wild card with a generous spirit—now, he only embodies part of that description.
Farewell Andy Murray, a fighter to the last. Plenty of tributes have been written to him
By snubbing the Citi Open in Washington to be here, it is estimated he will lose 110 spots in the world rankings, thereby hurtling outside the top 170
Chelsea are desperate
Chelsea’s urgent desire to get Conor Gallagher off the roster is entirely justifiable. With just a year left on his contract, a fee of £34 million would significantly benefit their financials.
Moreover, it’s justifiable given the management’s questionable judgment. Their lack of appreciation for the intrinsic value of a talented homegrown player is hardly surprising by now.
