France Bars Russian and Belarusian Journalists from Attending Olympic Games Citing Potential Espionage Threats

France has implemented stringent measures ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, barring nearly 100 foreign journalists, physiotherapists, and technical staff, citing concerns over potential espionage threats. According to French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin in an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche, this decision primarily affects individuals from Russia, Belarus, and unspecified other countries.

Darmanin explained that while these individuals likely did not pose immediate terrorism risks, there remained concerns about espionage activities, including potential cyberattacks through network infiltration. He emphasized that France’s precautions were necessary to safeguard the event’s integrity.

In total, French authorities reviewed 960,000 individuals intending to participate in the Olympics, resulting in 4,340 exclusions, including 19 individuals flagged under the “Prevention of Radicalization in a Terrorist Context” list and 139 from the “S list” of individuals posing security threats to the state. Additionally, 257 radical Islamists, 181 ultra-left activists, and 95 members of far-right organizations were also denied entry.

Despite these exclusions, 15 Russian and 16 Belarusian athletes will participate in the Games under a neutral status, as decided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Darmanin underscored that France’s approach prioritized caution, allowing some Russians associated with the IOC to attend while refusing entry to a significant number of journalists who claimed they intended to cover the Games.

The Summer Olympics are scheduled to take place in Paris from July 26 to August 11, featuring competitions across 32 sports, with a total of 329 sets of medals up for grabs. The event will be closely monitored by 45,000 law enforcement personnel to ensure the safety and security of participants and spectators alike.