Mid-east rumblings cast shadow over Paris, and Malaysia tries to make it a score

AS tension in the Middle East escalates, Paris is beefing up security measures as it enters the final straight ahead of the 33rd Olympic Games in July.

Chief organiser Tony Estanguet, a three-time Olympic gold medallist in canoe, told the media at a press conference to mark the 100-day countdown last week: “We’ve built up a lot of confidence and peace of mind.”

Malaysia, in contrast, is still seeking a peace of mind as to how many athletes would board the plane to the City of Lights.

As Paris prepares for the sporting extravaganza from July 26-Aug 11, the Malaysian contingent remain a work in progress.

After the first team managers’ meeting recently, chef de mission Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, is confident that more than 20 athletes will form the contingent.

As things stand, Malaysia may potentially be represented by a maximum of 32 athletes once the universality place or commonly known as the wild card and country quota or unused quota places are determined in early July.

So far, only six athletes – Bertrand Rhodict (diving), Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif (sailing), Johnathan Wong (shooting), Ariana Nur Dania Mohd Zairi (archery), Nur Aisyah Mohd Zubir (cycling) and Mohd Aniq Kasdan (weightlifting) – have qualified on merit.

Provisionally Azizulhasni Awang, Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri from cycling and golfing trio Gavin Green, Natasha Andrea Oon and Ashley Lau have qualified, pending the final confirmation from their respective international federations.

Badminton is expected to be represented by Lee Zii Jia, Goh Jin Wei, Aaron Chia-soh Wooi Yik, Chen Tang Jie-toh Ee Wei and Pearly Tan-m. Thinaah.

In sailing, the Last Chance Regatta in Hyeres, France, beginning on Thursday, provides a final chance for Khairulnizam Mohd Affendy, Fauzi Kaman Shah and Juni Karimah Noor Jamali to book a ticket to Paris, while Syaqiera Mashayikh and Ku Nurin Afiqah Ku Ruzaini will aim for a slot from the World Final Individual & Team Qualification in Antalya, Turkiye, in June.

Universal quota or wild cards could go to Khiew Hoe Yean (swimming) and Mohd Azeem Fahmi and Shereen Samson Vallabouy (athletics), while Alice Chang Li Sian and Wong Qi Shen from table tennis as well as Ooi Tze Liang (diving) may go under the unused quota.

In previous Games for the past three decades, Malaysia were represented by 30 athletes in Tokyo 2020, 32 in Rio 2016, 29 in London 2012, 32 in Beijing 2008, 26 in Athens 2004, 40 in Sydney 2000, 35 in Atlanta 1996 and 26 in Barcelona 1992.

The biggest contingent that took part under the Malaysian banner was 62 athletes in Tokyo 1964, with the nine in Seoul 1988 the smallest.

The number of athletes aside, with conflicts raging around the world, the issue of security will be crucial in France with its own history of terror attacks.

With so many geopolitical questions in the Games since the Cold War, all current tensions, such as the ongoing Israeli-hamas conflict could be projected onto the Olympics.

Malaysian athletes, to be part of the 14,000 competing athletes, will have to put international tensions aside and cohabit together in the Olympic Village against a backdrop of controversy and war.

Estanguet noted that Paris still hold out hopes they can stage a spectacular sporting extravaganza, adding that “France will be watched from all around the world ... and it’s important that France shines.

“We have a collective responsibility to talk about sports, to talk about the positive and not just pass on the negative statements, the things that irritate and upset us.”

Regardless of the number of athletes forming the Malaysian contingent in July, politics may well creep into the Olympics.