Bon Jour, Merci, says Paris before Olympics 2024 Opening Ceremony

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These are testing times for the world. Paris, in particular, and France are battling frayed nerves and anxiety, hours before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics, on Friday. The wet morning was scary in many ways as high-speed trains came to a screeching halt due to vandalism in cities like Marseille.

Word has it that the sailors competing in the Olympics are based around Marseille and will face problems. Whether the two sailors Vishnu Saravanan and Netra Kumanan make it to Paris in time or not is not a big deal. What matters is such news is distressing. Very recently, there was a collapse of Microsoft's network, which resulted in flights being grounded all over the world.

The cyber-attack was purportedly from Russia, and it is understandable why this is happening. More than two years ago, the Russia versus Ukraine war began, and it is still raging. Vladimir Putin has not budged and in his one-minded effort to destroy the fabric of Ukraine, he has done everything possible to hurt the Ukrainians.

Europe is divided but supports Ukraine. The United States of America, which considers itself as Big Daddy of the world, is against Russia. Even though Joe Biden is on his way out as President of the USA, his hatred and that of the American nation for Russia is well known. From a historical context, dating back to 1980 when Moscow hosted the Olympics, the West Bloc boycott was massive. Those Olympics had become weak.

Today, as far as the sports world is concerned, Russia stands cornered. The International Olympic Committee treats Russia like pariah dogs, as well as Belarus. Imagine, erstwhile USSR was a force to reckon with before perestroika and glasnost in 1987. Break up of USSR into small Republics has worsened it. Russia is small in comparison to the past but wants to think it is still powerful and calls the shots. For its athletes to face discrimination is sad but a reality.

Russia versus Ukraine apart, terror and radicals are a big threat to the Paris Olympics. The way Israel versus Palestine as a full-blown war has raged with the Gaza strip bombed to ashes and dust, the world stands polarised. There is support for Israel and at the same time, Palestine has the support of the Arab world, which is strong.

Anyone who takes on Israel is crazy. They are powerful and do not fear hitting back. In strategic defence terms, what they can achieve in a war zone is crazy, so Palestinians are facing the brunt of it.

One may ask what is the link between these wars and the Olympics. Well, sport and war can never be seen in isolation. Rewind to the times of Adolf Hitler and "Heil Hitler" the Berlin Olympics is remembered for the wrong reasons. History is full of details on the madness of Hitler and how he eventually faced the wrath of many countries.

Cut to the present, Germany is united, no East and West Germany like before. China is nowhere in all this today, though they may be seen leaning towards Russia.

Ideally, the Olympics is about sport and love, not war. Rivalries are meant only for the field of play. However, what is happening in Paris not new. War and peace coexist, though it's not the perfect way for the world. France is anxious and has the support of many nations in this battle to host a good Summer Olympics. They have drawn in security personnel from the world over, hoping these Summer Games will be glitch-free.

Internally as well, France is dealing with plenty of problems. Migration is one of them, and the city of Paris houses many illegal humans. They are the ones who strain and drain the economy. Illegal squatters or whatever, they have now been rounded up and thrown out of the city proper. The Western media laps up this news as big.

But then, migration from Albania and Morocco and many more countries is crazy. They are in Paris, do no work. Their source of income is zero and they live off dole or beg for food. Drugs and more, many are hooked onto it.

As France sees political imbalance as well and President Emmanuel Macron puts up a brave face in public eye, he knows, the country is on the edge. The world is watching Paris, hoping and praying the Olympics goes on peacefully.

Should we say, Bon Jour!