They denounce “the exploitation of the Olympics“, became a “tool for diverting public opinion from the vital issues of our time: the climate challenge and the safeguarding of our democratic framework and our social pact“. Led by Sébastien Barles, deputy mayor of Marseille for ecological transition and member of the “Printemps Marseillais” majority who conquered the city in June 2020, after 25 years of reign of Jean-Claude Gaudin (LR), the signatories from the platform thus denounce a “Fortress Europe which has forgotten its traditions of welcome and hospitality“, threatened by “the rise of national populism and illiberal democracies“.
“Carbon impact”, “social cleansing”…
Likewise, they wonder about the cost of these Games, “billions of public money“(from three to five billion, according to the Court of Auditors, editor’s note) which could, according to them, “finance the investments necessary for the ecological transition and respond to the rise in energy and food insecurity“On this ecological aspect, the 5 elected officials see in these Games”major greenwashing operations to glorify climate-killing multinationals“like Coca-Cola, official sponsor of the torch relay,”global paragon of the ravages of junk food“. On April 29, the Marseille environmental defense association “Clean my Calanques” refused to carry the flame for the same reasons.
“It is high time to re-examine these major international sporting competitions where money reigns king and sport business and its excesses participate in the environmental massacre.“, insist Marseille elected officials, emphasizing “the immense carbon impact linked to international travel“athletes or spectators, “additional sources of pollution” And “social cleansing in host cities“.
