Moscow against Macron: “No cyber attack at the Paris Games”

High tension ahead Paris 2024 Games: only 111 days left until the inauguration which will be held on July 26th along the Seine. The Kremlin denounced the French president’s statements as “unacceptable”, Emmanuel Macron, according to which Russia intends to unleash a disinformation campaign on the Olympics. Macron had explained that Moscow was trying to argue that France was not capable of hosting the Games and that the event would be a risk. “I have no doubt” that the Games will be targeted by Russia, Macron had argued, “even in the field of information”. “These are completely unfounded accusations,” the Kremlin spokesman immediately responded, Dimitry Peskov. And he added that this is “absolutely unacceptable behavior”, characteristic of Western accusations which are never “supported by adequate evidence”. Given the world situation of wars and tensions, in France they are seriously worried about both terrorism by “mavericks” and possible cyber-attacks (see Spy Calcio of 29 March) also by Russia. According to the head of the French cyber defense (Anssi), Vincent Strubel, some foreign states may be interested in “disrupting the opening ceremony or causing problems with public transport”. Energy infrastructure could also be attacked. Macron reiterated that there could be a plan B for the inaugural ceremony on July 26. But it was not specified where.

There is tension, fueled not only by the French president but also by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, which claims that “Russians and Belarusians are not welcome.” The IOC sought a compromise solution, as questionable as you want: no flags and anthem, only neutral athletes, no teams. Athletics, for example, did not allow the Russians to qualify for the Olympics. Thomas Bach, on this matter, he hesitated a lot, while he had been good at managing the pandemic on the occasion of the Tokyo 2020 (2021) and Beijing 2022 Games. The Russian delegation in Paris, assuming that Putin does not change his mind, will be very small (at most 50-55 athletes) and will win very little compared to the past. Given the situation, there will be maximum attention also for the delegations of Israel and the USA. The Olympic and Paralympic Games will attract around 10 million fans between July and September from all over the world.

Weights, Pizzolato also qualified for Paris 2024

After Massidda, Antonino Pizzolato will also be there at the Paris 2024 Games. The Italian weightlifter finished fourth in the World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, with a total of 380 kg (170 in the snatch and 210 in the clean sweep) and confirmed his seventh place in the Olympic qualifying ranking of -89 kg, a position achieved thanks to the same 380 kg lifted at the Doha Grand Prix last December. This means that your individual pass for the Games in France is official. Bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 in the -81 kg category, the Sicilian born in ’96 and three-time European champion will therefore fly to Paris with the aim of confirming himself on the Five Circles podium. Dreaming of the top step. The work done by Antonio Urso, president of the Italian Federation, is bringing great results. There are currently 214 Italians qualified for Paris (107 men, 107 women) in 25 disciplines.