^{Credit: Jorge Novominsky / AFP}

Amid a spate of threats and an expected hostile welcome, most of Israel’s Olympic delegation departed Monday afternoon for Paris ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Games on Friday.

“We feel like emissaries of the State of Israel — our athletes, every one of them are here to achieve their dreams, but there is another layer, of a national mission,” Yael Arad, the president of the Olympic Committee of Israel, said during a press conference at Ben Gurion Airport ahead of the flight.

Arad said the delegation is obviously hoping to return to Israel with medals, “but our first victory is that we’re here, that we didn’t give up, that since October 7 we’ve taken part in hundreds of competitions… What is leading us is the flag of Israel.”

Placing her hostages’ dog tag necklace inside her shirt, Arad — who won Israel’s first Olympic medal in 1992 in judo — noted that while Israel’s athletes will outwardly adhere to Olympic rules against political statements during competitions and ceremonies, each member of the delegation is carrying the message within them.

“This is what will lead us throughout this entire period,” she said. “In our internal, secret drawer, every one of us is taking all the strength of the Israeli people. We’re bringing with us the hostages, the fallen, the families, everything surrounding October 7 will be with us in our hearts.”

The Israeli delegation is departing with a highly enhanced security presence due to tensions and threats surrounding Israel’s participation in the 2024 Olympics amid its ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.

Israel’s athletes have faced a series of threats ahead of the Games, and there have already been attacks and foiled attacks on the proceedings in Paris. Israeli Olympic officials have said that its security budget for the Paris Games has been doubled compared to Tokyo.

Aside from security concerns, many of the athletes are also bracing themselves for an angry reception, including protests outside games, boos inside stadiums, opponents’ refusing to shake their hands or other staged provocations.

During a speech on Saturday, a far-left French lawmaker said Israelis were not welcome at the Olympic Games, sparking a rebuke from the French foreign minister.

La France Insoumise (LFI) lawmaker Thomas Portes said in a speech that “no, the Israeli delegation is not welcome in Paris… Israeli athletes are not welcome at the Olympic Games.”

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne dismissed the comments, saying that “the Israeli delegation is welcome in France,” and calling Portes’s remarks “irresponsible and dangerous.”

“We will ensure the security of the delegation,” Sejourne added. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said in a TV interview on Sunday that Israeli athletes would be provided 24-hour protection during the Games. As always, Shin Bet agents will be on hand at the Olympics to provide added security to the Israeli delegation.

Israel’s athletes were also dispatched from the airport on Monday with comments from Meirav Leshem Gonen, the mother of hostage Romi Gonen, who told the group that “you are an inspiration to all of us.”

Noting that they are likely to face a hostile reception in Paris, Leshem Gonen said that “a whole nation stands behind you,” and asked them to not forget the hostages, those who were killed and the soldiers who are still fighting in Gaza: “Keep your heads up with pride, to show that anyone who thinks they can break us has no chance.”

Not all of the delegation was aboard the flight on Monday. The soccer team departed last week, as it faces its first match on Wednesday evening against Mali, before competing against Paraguay on Saturday night and Japan next week. The sailing delegation left on Sunday, as did gymnast Artem Dolgopyat and archers Roy Dror and Mikaella Moshe.

Overall, Israel is sending 88 athletes to Paris to compete in 15 sports, with Israeli Olympic officials expressing hope of returning with four or five medals.

The delegation to Paris also includes Oren Smadga, the head coach of the men’s judo team, who made the decision last week to attend the Games despite the death of his son, Sgt. First Class (res.) Omer Smadga, 25, who was killed while fighting in Gaza several weeks earlier.

Oren Smadga, who won a bronze medal for Israel at the 1992 Olympic Games, said that “amid all the difficulty and the pain I know that I must carry out my mission and my commitment in front of the world, in particular at this time.”

In a statement provided by the OCI, Smadga said, “We will go to the competition with our heads held high, out of adherence to the goal and the spirit of brotherhood which strengthens us always, in particular now.”

At the opening ceremony along the River Seine on Friday evening, Israel will be led by flag-bearers swimmer Andi Murez and Peter Paltchick, both immigrants.

Murez, who was born in the United States, competed for Israel in both Tokyo and at the Rio 2016 Olympics. She is also a qualified doctor who juggled her medical school studies with her Olympic training. Paltchik, a native of Ukraine, competed for Israel at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where he won a bronze as part of the mixed-team judo competition.

Source: The Times of Israel