Azerbaijan Protests to IOC Over Provocative Remarks at Paris Olympics Opening
According to a joint statement released by the Ministry and the National Olympic Committee, the incident occurred on July 26 when a reporter from France2 made discriminatory remarks during the parade of athletes, specifically targeting Azerbaijan.
The reporter accused Azerbaijan of instigating conflicts with Armenia and labeled Armenia as a friend of France, mentioning the “fall of Nagorno-Karabakh to the Azerbaijani army” as a significant event for the Armenian people this year. Azerbaijan contends that these statements violate the Fundamental Principles of the Olympic Charter.
The Olympic Charter, upheld by numerous United Nations General Assembly resolutions, including the “Recognition of the Fundamental Principles of the Olympic Charter” (A/RES/78/10), explicitly states that the mission of the IOC is to promote Olympism globally, lead the Olympic Movement, and resist any political or commercial exploitation of sports and athletes.
In response to the incident, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Olympic Committee emphasized in their letter that the derogatory portrayal of Azerbaijan by a national TV channel constitutes a clear breach of the Olympic Charter. They argued that such rhetoric undermines the spirit of the games and disrupts peace efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The letter urged the IOC to take decisive action against the politicization of sports during the 2024 Olympics in Paris. It called for the IOC to issue a public statement addressing the French government, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, and France2, condemning the channel’s conduct. Azerbaijan seeks a firm response to ensure that sports remain a platform for unity and peace, free from political bias and propaganda.
