The French authorities refused to allow journalists and technical staff from the…

The French authorities refused to allow journalists, physiotherapists and technical staff from Russia, Belarus and other countries to participate in the Olympic Games due to suspicions of espionage, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said in an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche.

“They are probably not here to carry out terrorist attacks. But beyond intelligence and traditional espionage, there is the possibility of accessing entry points into computer networks to carry out cyberattacks. On the other hand, we allowed Russians who work in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to participate in the Olympics,” he said.

According to him, certain employees from Russia, Belarus and other countries were not allowed to participate in the Olympics, the full list of which the minister did not name. He clarified that experts checked 960.000 people, excluding 4340 people as a result, “less than a hundred” people were denied admission to the games on suspicion of espionage.

19 people were on the Prevention of Terrorist Radicalization (FSPRT) list, and another 359 people were ordered to leave French territory by court order. The investigation identified 257 radical Islamists, 181 members of far-left organizations and 95 members of far-right groups.

“Every participant, volunteer, security agent, steward, as well as the athletes’ companions, right down to the water carriers, were all carefully screened to ensure that the games were safe,” Darmanin said.

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