2023-12-24 17:29:27
While the ethics committee for the Paris 2024 Games advocates its exclusion and the organizing committee (COJOP) announced its decision on it at the beginning of January, Émilie Gomis reacts in an interview given to The Team. The former Blue fullback (194 caps) spoke to the media for the first time since the controversy arose around one of her Instagram stories.
As a reminder, on October 9, two days after the attacks committed by Hamas in Israel, the ambassador of Paris 2024 republished a post featuring maps of France dating from 1947, 1967 then 2023 gradually covered by an Israeli flag. The story was accompanied by a question: “What would you do in this situation?” »
After apologizing for the first time on her Instagram account, Gomis “reiterates her apologies”. “This October 9, I reacted with emotion, my story was hurtful for some, I recognize it” specifies the ex-basketball player, who pleaded her case to Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024 and Amélie Oudéa -Castéra, Minister of Sports.
“Of course I condemn (the Hamas attacks). I said this in particular to the Minister of Sports in my letter. I have chosen not to post again on this subject since October 9. I realize that my commitments with Paris 2024 reinforce the need for public expression devoid of the slightest ambiguity. »
“I rediscovered that I was an immigrant”
If she admits “to having felt alone” after the COJOP contacted the ethics committee, the former athlete takes responsibility for her action by contesting any accusation of anti-Semitism. “I am suspected of anti-Semitism, which I consider to be an odious accusation,” she explains. There is a media wave which means that the ethics committee made this decision in a context which we know is highly delicate. I didn’t steal my place. My journey speaks for me. People who know me know that I am a thousand miles from any anti-Semitism. »
Émilie Gomis also considers herself the victim of a “witch hunt.” » “I knew that my status was being attacked, not just my person, but my role as ambassador for the Olympic Games. I understood that this was what we were looking for,” laments the 40-year-old woman, who denounces a wave of cyberharassment against her since the start of the controversy.
“I rediscovered that I was an immigrant. That I had been naturalized. These are things that happen when we are no longer in the realm of excellence: we are reminded of our origins. They would like to take away my nationality. I am rediscovering racism (…) I am as much French as anyone. »
As a reminder, the ambassador had already announced her refusal to resign. “I am going to convene a general meeting in the board of directors according to our statutes which will be able to discuss this situation at the very beginning of 2024,” declared Tony Estanguet during an end-of-year press conference at the headquarters of the Cojo. The General Assembly is set for January 10.
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