Olympics official sent home from Paris after being caught on camera making controversial ‘white supremacy’ hand gesture
- The man in question was wearing Olympic Broadcasting Services gear
- He stood behind athletes and coaches when he made the ‘OK’ gesture
- His accreditation which allowed him to cover the Olympic Games has now been revoked
A Paris Olympics official has had his accreditation revoked after he made a controversial hand gesture that could be interpreted as a symbol of “white supremacy”.
The unnamed man was captured on camera last Sunday during the women’s street skating final wearing an Olympic Broadcasting Services cap [OBS] equipment.
According to a journalist who informed the organizers of the incident, the man, who has been identified as a subcontractor, stood behind the athletes in the city’s La Concorde park and made an “OK” gesture twice low next to him, against a background of TV images.
His index finger and thumb are linked together to form the symbol, which can be used to show approval and is a common emoji. However, its use is also said to be increasing among certain far-right groups. The man’s motives are unknown.
The man reportedly tried to maneuver himself into a position where he would be visible on the live images that were also shown on the large screens in the room.
A Paris Olympics official has had his accreditation revoked over this controversial hand gesture
The ‘OK’ symbol (bottom left) can be interpreted as a ‘expression of white supremacy’
He was seen making this gesture during a demonstration by two athletes.
An International Olympic Committee spokesman said: ‘The individual in question has been identified and it has been confirmed that he is not a member of the OBS team.
“They are connected to one of their contractors. The contractor has been informed. The individual’s accreditation has been revoked with immediate effect.”
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization that fights anti-Semitism and prejudice, the gesture is seen as a “genuine expression of white supremacy.”
The group also explained that the symbol started as an online joke, before becoming a “popular troll tactic” by some “right-wing individuals.”
The man accused of killing 51 people at two New Zealand mosques in 2019, the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history, made the sign while in court.
29-year-old Australian Brenton Tarrant later confessed to the murders of 51 people, the attempted murder of another 40 people and one charge of terrorism.
The judge called his actions “inhuman” and said he “showed no mercy.”
The journalist who reported the matter to organizers in Paris claimed the issue was “nothing new” in his native Brazil, citing a court case last year in which a judge overturned the acquittal of a former government official after he made the gesture.