The Paris 2024 Olympics drew to a close with a dazzling ceremony at the Stade de France, packed to the rafters as it had been throughout the 16-day sporting extravaganza featuring 32 disciplines.

With the Games concluded, the Olympic countdown clock reset, this time ticking towards Los Angeles. Sports enthusiasts can now circle July 21, 2028, on their calendars – a date 1,439 days in the future.

Israel has every reason to celebrate these Games, having amassed an unprecedented seven medals – a new national record. The country's impressive haul includes a gold medal from windsurfer Tom Reuveni, silver medals from judokas Raz Hershko and Inbar Lanir, another silver from gymnast Artem Dolgopyat and the rhythmic gymnastics team, a silver from windsurfer Sharon Kantor, and a bronze from Peter Paltchik.

Video: Tom Reuveni speaks after winning gold / Credit: AFP

The honor of bearing Israel's flag at the closing ceremony fell to Reuveni , who remained in France and made the journey from Marseille to Paris in recent days, alongside Romi Paritzki, captain of the gymnastics team.

The ceremony commenced with the Olympic flame, which had been dramatically lit atop a hot air balloon during the opening festivities. The privilege of carrying the flame into the stadium was bestowed upon swimmer Leon Marchand, who dominated the pool with four gold medals.

Following a stirring rendition of the French national anthem, flag bearers from all participating nations entered the Stade de France. They were followed by the remaining athletes who had stayed in Paris for the grand finale.

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The controversy surrounding Imane Khelif's gender identity continues to dominate Olympic headlines and discussions, but few expected Israel to be implicated in the matter. The president of the Algerian Olympic Committee has accused a "Zionist lobby" of attempting to undermine Muslim boxer Imane Khelif.

The Algerian boxer, set to compete in a semifinal bout at Paris 2024, has faced accusations from her opponents regarding her gender in recent days, following the International Boxing Association's (IBA) decision to bar her from competition.

HAPPENING NOW

The International Boxing Association is holding a press conference in Paris to address the issues surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting.

Dr. Ioannis Filippatos, the former Chair of IBA Medical Committee and an OB/GYN with… pic.twitter.com/VC7H5xiSZN

— REDUXX (@ReduxxMag) August 5, 2024

Yacine Arab, president of the Algerian Olympic Committee, has weighed in on the situation, pointing an accusing finger at Israel: "The Zionist lobby wants to break Khelif's spirit, but she is strong. They don't want to see an Arab or Muslim woman succeed in boxing."

The IBA is holding a press conference in Paris to address the issues surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting. Dr. Ioannis Filippatos, the former chair of the IBA medical committee and an OB/GYN, confirmed that neither Lin nor Khelif are biological females. "The blood result looks and says, the laboratories, that these boxers are male."

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Italian Olympic gold medalist Thomas Ceccon was seen taking a nap in a Paris park following his complaints about the living conditions in the Olympic Village, as reported by the Mirror.

Ceccon, who secured gold in the men's 100m backstroke and bronze in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay, expressed his frustration with the accommodation after failing to qualify for the 200m backstroke final on Wednesday.

"There is no air conditioning in the village, it's hot, the food is bad. Many athletes move for this reason. It's not an alibi or excuse, it's the reality of what perhaps not everyone knows," he lamented.

#BREAKING: ITALIAN SWIMMER THOMAS CECCON CAMPING IN PARK

Gold medalist Thomas Ceccon opts to sleep in a park due to unbearable heat in the Olympic Village, which lacks AC to promote sustainability.
Is this eco-friendly move too extreme?#Olympics #Paris2024 #M pic.twitter.com/qiDqL9y9jR

— GeniusRogueX (@GeniusRogueX) August 4, 2024

The swimmer's impromptu park rest was captured by Saudi Arabian rower Husein Alireza, who shared a clip on social media with the caption: "Rest today, conquer tomorrow."

Ceccon is not alone in his criticism of the Olympic Village. Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus, who won the women's 400m freestyle, also commented on the challenging conditions. "It probably wasn't the time I thought I was capable of, but living in the Olympic Village makes it hard to perform," Titmus said. "It's definitely not made for high performance, so it's about who can really keep it together in the mind."

Italian gold medal-winning swimmer Thomas Ceccon sleeping next to park bench. He complained about the lack of A/C and noise inside the athletes village. pic.twitter.com/xQADZ37T4h

— SAINT (@saint) August 4, 2024

Romanian table tennis player Bernadette Szocs echoed these concerns, telling the Guardian, "There is no air conditioning, just this fan, and it is not enough. Somehow, we were lucky that it was not so hot outside, so we didn't need it so much, but it is now hot, and you can feel it is too hot in the room. We are sleeping with the door open in the night. The rooms are small, and we are two persons."

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It was in the air (or rather, in the water), but last night (Monday to Tuesday), the organizers of the Paris Olympics announced that the men's triathlon competition was postponed just hours before it was supposed to start. A test conducted at 3:30 AM in the Seine River found that pollution levels were still too high for athletes to swim safely.

In a statement, the organizers said that heavy rain over Paris on Friday and Saturday forced them "to postpone the event, again, for health reasons." As more rain is expected later this week, the men's race has been rescheduled for 10:45 AM (Paris time) on Wednesday, following the women's race, which is set to begin at 8:00 AM.

The ongoing fiasco began, believe it or not, a hundred years ago when jumping into the Seine and swimming in it were banned. For decades, sewage flowed into the river, but in 2015, the organizers decided they wanted to hold open water competitions and the swimming portion of the triathlon.

All the city's great minds gathered to think of a solution to the smelly problem, and then an idea came up: the city wanted to clean the river for the games and future generations, so they could eventually swim in it. What they didn't anticipate was that the task would be so complex, especially since it involves the Seine and not some smaller river.

France spent over 1.4 billion euros (yes, indeed) of taxpayers' money to clean it, including the construction of a massive basin to capture excess rainwater and stop too much sewage from flowing into the river, as well as infrastructure renovations and upgrades to sewage treatment plants. However, each time heavy rain pushed more sewage and E. coli into the Seine, causing another headache for the organizers. The first sign that the situation was still dire came last year when test events were canceled or shortened.

Despite this, the organizers and politicians repeatedly assured everyone that everything would be fine. To prove it, just a few weeks ago, Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Organizing Committee Chairman Tony Estanguet, and others jumped into the water one after another.

While they didn't grow tails or report any unusual health issues, no one anticipated the heavy rain during the opening ceremony and the following day, which returned the water to its previous condition and ultimately led to the cancellation of the training swim and the postponement of the competition itself.

In a statement, the organizers confirmed that the decision was made following a meeting at 3:30 AM and a water quality test involving Paris 2024, the World Triathlon Association, the International Olympic Committee, the French Weather Company, the city of Paris, and the Île-de-France region: "Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that the health of athletes is their priority. Tests conducted today in the Seine revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to take place."

Anyone who thought the future was bright should look at Wednesday's forecast, which also includes the risk of thunderstorms, potentially pushing the competition even further. The final deadline will be August 6 with the mixed relay event, hoping for miracles or having to figure out what to do next.

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In the lead-up to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Israel is significantly bolstering security measures for its athletes amid ongoing global tensions and the backdrop of the Gaza war, Jewish Insider reports. With less than three weeks until the opening ceremony, Israeli competitors are not only focusing on their athletic preparations but also bracing for potential protests, hostility from other athletes, and even the possibility of terror attacks.

Israel is sending 87 athletes who will compete in 16 events at this summer's games. Peter Paltchik, a judoka champion and one of Israel's flag-bearers for the opening ceremony, expressed confidence in the security arrangements. "There is going to be a lot of security, both French and Israeli," he told Jewish Insider. While unable to disclose specifics, Paltchik emphasized that the team feels well-protected and is concentrating on their athletic goals.

pro-Palestinian protesters demand Israel's exclusion from the 2024 Olympic Games in front of the Olympic Committee headquarters in Paris. pic.twitter.com/knGXIE50qP

— S p r i n t e r F a m i l y (@SprinterFamily) June 10, 2024

 Paltchik has observed a change in attitudes among some competitors since October 7, saying, "Many of the athletes who used to be my friend do not want to talk to me anymore or shake my hand. I'm sure there will be other provocations," he continued, "but I am trying to stay focused on the technical stuff and on competing. Just being there and trying to win is the best representation for my country."

Israel has doubled its security budget for this year's games, reflecting the complex preparations required in light of current events. Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar told Jewish Insider, "There are more threats to Israelis abroad since Oct. 7, many times over. Our ministry is working in coordination with the Shin Bet. We're preparing in terms of how the athletes can practice and compete safely, both mentally and physically."

Ready to celebrate the medalists of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games ?

The Champions Park, at the iconic Trocadéro site, opens on July 29. A place of sport, celebration, and culture, where over 1,200 medalists will come to celebrate their victory with the public. Emotions… pic.twitter.com/o1ANEnVuLN

— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) July 5, 2024

 The security efforts involve close cooperation between Israeli and French authorities. Eytan Ben David, former head of the dignitary protection unit in the Shin Bet, explained that every member of the Israeli delegation will have security protection at the highest level. The Shin Bet has been working extensively with the Olympic Committee of Israel to assess security arrangements at various venues across France.

Despite the heightened security concerns, Israeli officials have refuted rumors of a potential withdrawal from the games. A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Paris stated, "Our message is very clear, Israel, just like any other delegation, will participate in all the events, including the opening ceremony and the competitions itself." The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also expressed its support for Israel's participation. IOC President Thomas Bach emphasized that there was "no question" Israel would compete as usual, highlighting the special measures taken to protect Israeli athletes since the 1972 Munich Olympics tragedy.

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Israel's under-21s on Saturday clinched a semi-final spot in the soccer European Championship, after beating Georgia in dramatic fashion in the penalty shootout.

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