Palestinian boxer Waseem Abu Sal wore a shirt depicting children being bombed during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, challenging the event’s strict rules on political statements. Abu Sal, a flag-bearer for the Palestinian delegation in the river parade along the Seine, wore a white shirt embroidered with images of warplanes dropping missiles over children playing sports.
“This shirt represents the current image in Palestine,” Abu Sal told AFP. “The children who are martyred and die under the rubble, children whose parents are martyred and are left alone without food or water.”
The Palestinian Olympic Committee, led by Jibril Rajoub, confirmed they had consulted with the Paris Olympics local organizing committee about the shirt to ensure it did not violate Olympic regulations. “It’s a message of peace. It’s a message to attract attention,” Rajoub stated. “This is anti-war, against killing. This abides with the Olympic Charter.”
Despite the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ban on political statements during events and ceremonies, athletes are allowed to express their views in press conferences and on social media. Rajoub also noted that the Palestinian team aims to use the Paris Olympics to highlight the suffering of civilians in Gaza.
Abu Sal, 20, received a wildcard entry for the Olympic boxing competition. Residing in the West Bank, he is unable to train with his Cairo-based coach due to Israeli travel restrictions.