Despite threats, Israeli Olympic delegation travels to Paris with heads held high, backed by entire nation

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Most of Israel’s 88-member Olympic team departed on a flight for Paris, France on Monday afternoon, where the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics will begin on Friday.

Ahead of the Monday flight, the president of the Olympic Committee of Israel, Yael Arad, spoke at a press conference at Ben-Gurion International Airport, stressing that Israeli team is about to embark upon something more than a sports mission.

“We feel like emissaries of the State of Israel – our athletes, every one of them are here to achieve their dreams, but there is another layer, of a national mission,” Arad said, adding that while she hoped the delegation would return with medals, winning medals is no longer the main purpose.

“Our first victory is that we’re here, that we didn’t give up, that since October 7 we’ve taken part in hundreds of competitions… What is leading us is the flag of Israel,” Arad said. “In our internal, secret drawer, every one of us is taking all the strength of the Israeli people. We’re bringing with us the hostages, the fallen, the families, everything surrounding October 7 will be with us in our hearts.”

The Israeli team expects to be met with a hostile reception in Paris, including protests, boos and staged provocations, having already faced a number of threats, including emails threatening to kill the athletes when they arrive in Paris.

The Israeli athletes are reportedly surrounded by the largest security operation for Israel at the Olympic Games ever, including armed agents from Shin Bet, Israel's security agency. According to Israeli Olympic officials, the security budget for the Paris Games has doubled compared to Tokyo.

Meirav Leshem Gonen, the mother of Israeli hostage Romi Gonen, told the athletes on Monday that they are an “inspiration” and to hold their heads high.

“A whole nation stands behind you,” she said. “Keep your heads up with pride, to show that anyone who thinks they can break us has no chance.”

On Saturday, a far-left Member of Parliament from the La France Insoumise Party, Thomas Portes, told an anti-Israeli rally that Israel should not be welcomed.

“No, the Israeli delegation is not welcome in Paris… Israeli athletes are not welcome at the Olympic Games,” he said.

However, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne made it clear that Portes’ comments were inappropriate.

“The Israeli delegation is welcome in France,” Sejourne said, calling Portes’ remarks “irresponsible and dangerous.”

“We will ensure the security of the delegation,” Sejourne added, while French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Sunday that Israeli athletes would be provided with 24-hour protection during the competition.

The 88 Israeli athletes will compete in 15 different sports and the delegation hopes to return to Israel with at least four or five medals. The head coach of Israel’s Men’s Judo Team, Oren Smadja, also travel to Paris with the delegation, despite losing his son Omer during the fighting in Gaza in June.

“Amid all the difficulty and the pain I know that I must carry out my mission and my commitment in front of the world, in particular at this time,” said Smadja, himself, a former Olympic medal winner.

“We will go to the competition with our heads held high, out of adherence to the goal and the spirit of brotherhood which strengthens us always, in particular now,” he added.