What This Olympics Means to Israelis

The Olympic Games is a sports event held every four years. However, athletes have significant roles in the nation’s public. October 7th was a traumatizing terror attack not only for Israelis but also for the relatives of Israelis around the world.

When I hear the Japanese media broadcast, it seems as if the atrocities Hamas and other radical Islamists have become something of the past in spite of the fact that Hamas is committing to those who are kidnapped in Gaza.

Paris Olympics 2024 is the first Olympics held since the war against Hamas broke out. Israel has been attacked from the north by Hezbollah intensely. They are both proxies of Iran, funded and trained by the Iranian Ayatollah regime. I do understand that the media is supposed to have more of a mediating role than they do when it comes to reporting Gaza. However, the Japanese media never discusses the involvement of Gaza-based journalists’ direct involvement in the battles against the Israel Defense Forces and abuse of the hostages more in detail.

At the beginning of the Paris Olympics 2024, the Japanese media personnel were talking about Palestinian athletes losing their family members. In my opinion, many Israelis also lost their family members, leaving behind irreparable scars in their minds. To them, the athletes’ performance intge International competition matters, and their prizes mean a lot.

On October 7th last year, a hopeful gymnast, Karina Patrika, was shot to death point-blank by Hamas on October 7th. She was a hopeful Israeli rhythmic gymnast and was one of the lives lost at the Supernova Music festival in Kibbutz Re’im.

Fortunately, some of the Japanese sports are played around the world. Judo is not an exception, the terms, Judo and Judoka, are now used in English. Israel has been one of the countries with the strongest Judoka. Judo is one of the sports that gives high hope to the nation and the public.

The first winner of Israeli Judoka was in the 78kg weight category and won a silver medal with yellow ribbons in her hair with a wish that all the hostages in Gaza come home in the final. She won the silver medal. Peter Peltchik won a bronze medal in the -100kg category. And, just yesterday, Raz Hershko won silver in the over-78kg category. These medals mean a lot, regardless of the colors. As Peltchik said in the interview, “I wanted to make everyone happy,” I believe he made every Israeli happy.

On social media, people were talking about Israeli medalists on my timeline. People were talking about Peter Peltchik and his son’s coach losing his son, Sgt. Omer Smadga in the battle in Gaza.

Referring to the article in Times of Israel, “I fought for everyone, for our flag, we worked so hard for this moment,” says Paltchik, also referencing his coach, Oren Smadga, who decided to take part in the Olympics just a few weeks after his son, Sgt. First Class (res.) Omer Smadga was killed fighting in Gaza.”

A Japanese woman who lives in Israel was writing about Paltchik’s coach’s son, referring to the fact that many Israelis, including athletes, have losses of their family and friends. Paltrchik must have very mixed feelings for his coach and the first Israeli medalist in Judo on X. Even During this difficult time for the Israeli people, everyone can simply feel joy over watching athletes.

There has been much controversy over this year’s Olympics, starting from the opening ceremony. Athletes are eating “too health-oriented vegetarian” food, and there are other problems. Above all, though, I hope every athlete representing Israel is respected and honored despite rising Antisemitism.

Lastly, 300 days have passed since Israelis were kidnapped to Gaza by Hamas terrorists. The families’ sole wish is to bring their kidnapped families back from Gaza, and I hope this is realized in a form that is in the best interest of Israel.