Olympics official banished from games after he’s spotted making shocking gesture on camera during event
AN OLYMPICS official has been banished from Paris 2024 after he was spotted making a shocking hand gesture.
The man was caught on camera doing the controversial signal during the women’s street skate finals on Sunday with some claiming the gesture is linked to a disturbing far-right movement.
The man was seen appearing to make an “okay” hand sign with his thumb and index finger creating a circle and his fingers outstretched.
He repeated the action twice with his hands down by his side.
First as Australian ace Chloe Covell was competing before repeating it behind the Japanese athlete Liz Akama.
It is unclear how he intended the symbol to come across.
Traditionally, the “okay” gesture is used by a person to show they are fine and doing well.
In recent years it has become used far more frequently by far-right groups – sparking outrage over it being shown on the screens.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) described the gesture as a “sincere expression of white supremacy”.
It has regularly been used by “right-leaning individuals” in pictures on social media, the ADL added.
A Brazilian journalist first reported the man – later identified as a subcontractor at the Games – to Olympics organisers before they reviewed the footage from the La Concorde Urban Park.
The man had positioned himself into a spot where he would be clearly seen on the huge broadcasting screens, the journalist claims.
Before alleging that the man was watching himself as he made the signals.
The unnamed official was later identified as a subcontractor by the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS).
They announced he had his accreditation “cancelled effective immediately”.
A spokesperson for the IOC said: “The person in question has been identified and confirmed not to be a member of the OBS team. They are associated with one of its contractors.
“The contractor has been informed, consequently, the individual’s accreditation has been cancelled effective immediately.”
Japanese 14-year-old Coco Yoshizawa took home gold at the women’s street skateboard finals.
She beat out fellow teen sensations Liz Akama, 15, and Rayssa Leal, 16, collecting bronze at Place de La Concorde.
It comes as an Olympic judge has been sent home today after he took an “inappropriate” photo with two athletes.
The controversial pic was taken on the coast of Tahiti – where the Paris Olympics’ surfing category is being staged.
Ben Lowe was captured posing and smiling with fellow Aussies Ethan Ewing and Bede Durbidge – who were competing in the events he was officiating.
The image was captioned: “These three Straddie [Stradbroke Island] Boys doing their stuff at the Olympics.”
It caught the attention of social media users, presumably including competing athletes and fans, which sparked swift action from the International Surfing Association (ISA).
Lowe was then sent home for breaching impartiality rules.
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY..
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Jack Laugher, Olympic champ in Rio, teams up with Anthony Harding for the 3m synchro diving (10am).
It is the semi-finals and final (8.35pm) of the BMX racing with Beth Shriever and Kye Whyte both in contention.
Back-to-back world champion lightweight scullers Emily Craig and Imogen Grant can make amends for Tokyo heartache, missing a medal by 0.01 seconds, by winning gold (11.22am).
Bryony Page will look for a medal in the women’s trampolining, too (12.50pm).
BRITS TO WATCH
In athletics, Dina Asher-Smith has her 100m heat (10.50am), Josh Kerr has his in the 1,500m (10.10am) and then Keely Hodgkinson’s 800m opener is at 6.45pm.
Adam Burgess, Joe Clarke, Mallory Franklin and Kimblery Woods have their time trials for the new kayak cross event (2.30pm).
And it is the team jumping final of the equestrian at 1pm with Team GB in contention.
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
Leon Marchand is taking his home Olympics by storm and can add the 200m individual medley to his growing collection (7.49pm) – and is eyeing a world record, too.
Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda and Ethiopian Selemon Barega will battle it out for the men’s 10,000m gold – the only medal up for grabs on the opening night of the athletics (8.20pm).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
It is the final day of the windsurfing down in Marseille – the new class, iQFoil replaces the old RS:X and makes for brilliant viewing. Emma Wilson could bag a medal.
STATS MAD
154 – French judoxa Teddy Riner is going for a record-equally three individual gold medals in the 100+kg category (4.50pm). He won a staggering 154 contests in a row between September 2010 and February 2020.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.