Are the Olympics right or left?

This quasi-philosophical debate resurfaces as some people on social networks point out the embarrassment (real or supposed) of the left in the face of the Olympic Games.

The situation is such that a certain number of elected officials on the left feel obliged to defend themselves and publicly declare their love for sport, notably on Saturday in the face of this political science researcher from University College London, Philippe Marlière, who is convinced that “The French left despises capitalist competition”. A message viewed 1.4 million times.

A communist senator, Pierre Ouzoulias, himself asks the question: “Is the left’s disinterest in sport evidence of a sociological disconnect? Perhaps. Of a political problem? Yes! he said. As is our inability to appropriate the Marseillaise, the French flag and the Nation, despite being bequeathed by the Revolution.”

Does the left have a problem with these games?

No doubt the values, the nationalist reflex, the cult of the hero, of virility, not to mention the carbon and social footprint of these gigantic events do not delight them all. But even the environmentalist Sandrine Rousseau, not really pro-Olympics, marveled a few days ago at being totally taken with the Games, she the former basketball point guard even tweeted on Friday: “This Olympic day is crazy!“The Riner/Manaudou/Marchand sequence had the whole country in turmoil.

Bernard Thibault, the former leader of the CGT, also talked about playing pétanque, not to mention the MEP and “waterpolist” Manon Aubry who constantly asks France Télévisions to broadcast the matches. Should we also remind you who put forward the candidacy for these games? Two socialists, one was President, François Hollande, the other is still mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo.

Where does the trouble come from?

Perhaps it was La France Insoumise which, on the day of the opening ceremony, announced a popular commission of inquiry into Paris 2024. These Games which, they explain, “exacerbate the flaws and excesses of Emmanuel Macron’s policy” And “have nothing more to do with the cohesion and pleasure of sport.“The next day, Jean-Luc Mélenchon will also be one of the only ones on the left to join in the criticisms of Marion Maréchal and other traditionalists on the ceremony, in particular Marie Antoinette being beheaded. This will not have prevented many NFP elected officials from celebrating medals, and emotions… nor the LFI deputy of Toulouse François Piquemal from pestering the centrist mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc to install a fan zone in the city.

Right or left games?

“Right, fundamentally!” Denis Tillinac would have said, to whom I leave the conclusion, he who hastened to add: on the Tour de France, the right supported Anquetil the winner. The left: Poulidor the eternal second.