MENA Sports Wrap: Lebanese journalist who survived Israeli attack to carry Olympic flame

This week, Belgium and Italy refused to host Israel matches over the war on Gaza, a Lebanese journalist who was wounded by an Israeli strike last October is set to carry the Olympic Flame, the Refugee Olympic Team unites in Bayeux ahead of the Paris 2024 Game and an Egyptian cyclist gets banned from competing at Olympics after collision with a rival teammate. 

Belgium and Italy refuse to host Israel match over Gaza war

Belgium and Italy both have refused to host matches with Israel over its ongoing war on Gaza.

The Belgian Football Federation (RBFA) said it would not host a Nations League match against Israel on 6 September as the event was likely to spark demonstrations.

The city of Brussels said last month that the match would not be played at the King Baudouin stadium as authorities had deemed it "impossible to organise this very high-risk match" in the city due to tensions linked to Israel's war on Gaza.

Other Belgian cities also refused to host the match.

Similarly in Italy, a northeastern city has refused to host the Israeli national team for a Nations League game in October over "security reasons".

The mayor of the city of Udine rejected a request by the Italian Football Federation to play the game at the Polenergia stadium for fears it will spark divisions.

"Hosting such a match at a time when Israel is a country at war carries risks of causing divisions and social problems [...]," the mayor said. "We refuse to associate the name of our city with this match".

At least 100 Palestinian and three Lebanese journalists have been killed by Israel's war on Gaza since 7 October. Since the start of the war, around 38,800 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and 89,166 have been wounded in the same time frame. 

Lebanese journalist who survived Israeli strike to carry Olympics flame

Lebanese photojournalist Christina Assi who was severely wounded by an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon last October while on assignment, is set to carry the Olympic Flame on Sunday, 21 July, in Vincennes, France.

The AFP photographer made the announcement on her Instagram page on Wednesday, which she described as a tribute to journalists who had lost their lives while doing their job.

Assi, 29, was struck by an Israeli shell on 13 October 2023 while reporting on cross-border attacks from southern Lebanon.

The shell killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and injured six other journalists, including Assi, who has since had her right leg amputated.

Her AFP colleague, Dylan Collins, who will be by her side on Sunday in Vincennes, was also wounded that day.

"When AFP was asked to carry the Olympic Flame, we thought of Christina, whose courage and tenacity are admired by everyone at the Agency. Having her carry this symbol of peace sends a powerful message for her and for all journalists affected in the line of duty," said Pierre Galy, AFP's head of sport.

Assi said: "Carrying the Olympic Flame is an emotional experience, particularly after surviving a targeted attack while I was on assignment. My story is just one among many others in a year that has claimed the lives of over a hundred journalists."

She added: "By bearing this torch, we honour the sacrifice of those who have fallen and draw attention to the urgent need to protect those who continue to report despite the mental and physical toll."

Refugee Olympic team arrives in Bayeux ahead of Paris 2024 Games

The Refugee Olympic Team has arrived in Bayeux, France, for its first team gathering ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The team, made up of 37 athletes hailing from 15 different countries, is set to compete in 12 sports. The athletes will have access to training facilities and are set to participate in various team-building activities, including a symbolic bike ride to Arromanches-les-Bains, a D-Day landing site.

Masomah Ali Zada, Chef de Mission for the Refugee Olympic Team, expressed delight at the team's arrival in France.

"The town of Bayeux has welcomed us with open arms, and it is the perfect setting for us to connect, and build team spirit and unity," she said. "Despite our diverse cultures, languages, and stories, we are a united team and aim to carry this spirit with us to Paris."

Patrick Gomont, Mayor of Bayeux, said: "With just a few days before the official launch of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, we are delighted to host the Refugee Olympic Team. We hope to offer them the best possible conditions to prepare and build team spirit, embodying the values of peace and freedom."

Following their stay in Bayeux, the team will travel to Paris to stay at the Olympic Village.

Appearing for the third consecutive Olympic Games, the Refugee Olympic Team Paris 2024 is the largest yet, reflecting the growing number of refugees globally.

Egypt cyclist banned from competing at Olympics following collision with rival teammate 

The Egyptian Olympic Committee (EOC) this week has banned one of its cyclists from competing in the upcoming summer Olympic Games, over an incident in which she collided with a rival teammate.

Shahd Saeed will not compete at the Olympics set to take place in Paris later this month after the 19-year-old was ruled ineligible by the EOC following the one-year suspension imposed to her by the Egyptian Cycling Federation in April.

Saeed has maintained her innocence, saying the crash with Ganna Eliwa, though her fault, was "not deliberate" and "an accident".

The Egyptian cyclist was pushed off her bike 300 metres before the finishing line in a cycling event in Suez, back in April.

In video footage of the incident, Saeed can be seen riding behind Eliwa before she swerves, forcing her rival into the barrier. Eliwa said that Saeed has yet to apologise for what happened.

Eliwa was left badly injured following the incident. She was left concussed with a broken right collarbone, severe cuts and bruises to the righthand side of her body, medical reports showed.

The cyclist underwent surgery to fix her right shoulder and suffered temporary memory loss and remains unable to return to competitive cycling as a result.

In an interview with a local television talk show following the EOC’s decision, Saeed said: "I wish I had represented Egypt in the Olympics and my efforts over three years had paid off."

Eliwa, also 19, said it was "expected" that Saeed wouldn’t compete. "Saeed does not deserve to be in Paris".

The Egyptian was also fined the maximum penalty of $100.

Despite the incident and her suspension, Saeed is reportedly still registered to compete at the Olympics, provoking anger in Egypt. The EOC, however, maintains that the cyclist is not eligible to compete due to her suspension which is in place until 26 April 2025.