The matter is far from over. On October 9, Émilie Gomis, former basketball player and ambassador for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, created controversy by publishing an image on her Instagram account that referred to the Hamas attack. It showed a map of France increasingly covered over the years by the Israeli flag, accompanied by a question: “What would you do in this situation?” »
This position provoked the reaction of many Internet users, who denounced an anti-Semitic post. This Thursday, the silver medalist at the London Olympics apologized. “My story from October 9 sparked many reactions and emotion that I understand,” she wrote. I apologize to those who felt hurt. In these difficult times, my thoughts go out to all the innocent victims affected by the wars and barbaric acts which are increasing around the world. The accusations of anti-Semitism that I face are in complete contradiction with the values that were instilled in me and those that sport has taught me. »
But the matter will not end there. This Saturday, in fact, the CRIF (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France) announced that it had spoken on Friday with the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra “to express its indignation following the positions taken by Émilie Gomis”. According to them, the minister would have “assured that the Paris 2024 authorities are officially seized and will rule in the coming days. »
The president of Crif, @Yonathan_Arfispoke yesterday with Amélie Oudéa-Castéra @AOC1978Minister of Sports, to express his indignation following the positions taken by Emilie Gomis, ambassador of Paris 2024. The minister assured him that the Paris 2024 authorities are… https://t.co/3TIaCieOdk
— CRIF (@Le_CRIF) December 2, 2023
“The positions taken by ex-basketball player Émilie Gomis, which her message of explanation did not in any way appease, are insulting to the values of both humanism and Olympism,” said the CRIF. The only reasonable outcome to preserve the image and values of the Paris Olympics: that Émilie Gomis be removed from her position as ambassador of Paris 2024.”
