France Insoumise and the Olympic Games: an ideological and strategic discord
The Paris Olympic Games, although having aroused national enthusiasm and undeniable sporting success, provoked a mixed reaction within La France insoumise (LFI). The rebellious elected officials are discreet or critical of this global event.
A strategic silence?
Despite the popular enthusiasm surrounding the Games, the leading figures of LFI, such as Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Manuel Bompard, remained silent. Only a few elected officials, like Mathilde Panot and Sébastien Delogu, have greeted French athletes with rare tweets. This discretion could be explained by a fundamental disagreement with the values embodied by the Olympic Games.
Criticisms of Olympic values
The Olympics are perceived by some rebels as conveying a system of values in contradiction with the ideals of LFI. Arnaud Saint-Martin, deputy for Seine-et-Marne, criticizes the chauvinism of the French media, which mainly focuses on national performances, while the Olympics should promote international solidarity and universal peace. According to him, the event pits nations against each other rather than solely celebrating athletic performances.
A rejection of “sport business”
Mathieu Slama, an essayist committed to the left, and other members of LFI denounce the commercial and depoliticizing nature of the Olympics. For them, these games symbolize a kind of forced unanimity which masks the real social and economic issues. Mathilde Panot underlines the importance of saluting the diversity of international athletes, rather than focusing solely on the French delegation.
A critical and analytical approach
In July, LFI launched a “popular commission of inquiry” to analyze the social, economic and ecological implications of the Olympics. This approach reflects their concerns about the massive expenditure incurred, which some consider disproportionate to the country's urgent needs, such as the maintenance of school infrastructure or social housing.
An ideological positioning
The rebellious elected officials consider that the Olympic ideal, with its motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (Faster, Higher, Stronger), glorifies individualist and neoliberal competition, at the expense of the values of solidarity and collectivism. For Philippe Marlière, a French political scientist, this attitude reflects a radical left culture that associates competitive sport with capitalist consumerism, nationalism, and even sexism.
In short, for La France insoumise, the Olympic Games are much more than a simple sporting event. They reflect broader societal and political issues which question the very foundations of competition, national identity, and economic priorities.
