Russia's Response to Olympic Isolation: Disinformation, Cyber Threats, and 'Fake Games'

Sounds about right.

- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended its decision to allow two previously disqualified boxers to compete in Paris, citing 'misleading information' as the cause of the escalating row. - Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting were barred from last year’s world championships but cleared by the IOC to compete in the Olympics, drawing criticism from Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. - The International Boxing Association (IBA), which disqualified the athletes, was suspended by the IOC in 2019 over concerns about its governance, and the IOC has since taken interim authority over Olympic boxing. - The IOC stated that the athletes were 'victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA' and criticized the IBA for not following proper procedures. - The row has intensified concerns about the fairness and integrity of the competition, with Italy’s Prime Minister and the IBA both voicing strong opinions on the matter. Source: Financial Times

- Russian trolls are increasing their activity on social media, targeting influential accounts like Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr. - These efforts are part of a broader campaign to meddle in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, using low-quality, high-volume spam tactics. - A network of fake personas on X, run by Russian intelligence, aims to weaken international support for Ukraine and spread divisive content. - U.S. authorities have identified nearly 1,000 X accounts tied to a Russian bot farm, which have been removed by the platform. - Despite these efforts, the fake accounts have struggled to gain significant visibility or engagement from their high-profile targets. Source: [WSJ](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/russian-trolls-x-twitter-1e993a31?st=ssor94ii0geabh9)

😭😭😭😭😭

1. So why is Putin doing this ? When the conflict started, the entire West imposed sanctions on Russia. These sanctions are more extensive than those on Iran, North Korea, and Iraq combined. The West even sanctioned countries doing business with Russia, aiming to isolate Russia geopolitically. Despite this, Russia's GDP data is higher than that of the US and almost all European countries. With Modi, Russia is trying to showcase to the West that they are not alone. 2. Why did Modi receive a grander welcome than Xi? Russia's biggest trading partner is China, and the West claims that Russia has become China's puppet, suggesting that without China, Russia's economy would collapse. Recently leaked Chinese military documents show that China still claims the disputed area between Russia and China belongs to China. Russia wants to send a message to China that they are not fully dependent on them and that China shouldn't push the limits, even in their dreams

Never thought gender can be so confusing, something known as DSD- She appears to have a condition known as differences of sex development

- Three white-suited BMX riders from France swept the gold, silver, and bronze medals in the same event, celebrating a magical moment with the French public. - France won 64 medals, including 16 golds, nearly doubling its tally from Tokyo 2020 and surpassing previous records from Rio 2016, London 2012, and Beijing 2008. - The host nation's success is attributed to intensified training, bigger budgets, and a new national approach to managing top athletes, led by the Agence Nationale du Sport. - French athletes excelled in traditionally strong sports like fencing, judo, and cycling, with standout performances from swimmer Léon Marchand and judoka Teddy Riner. - Despite some athletes cracking under pressure, France's overall performance met President Emmanuel Macron's ambitious goal, placing fourth in overall medals and fifth in golds. Source: [Financial Times](https://www.ft.com/content/1f77330a-5f12-474a-8f30-d9c2eaa25fb2)

India’s Olympic medal tally is such a shame.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that North Korean athletes face severe consequences for failing to win Olympic medals. At the 2012 London Olympics, North Korea celebrated winning 4 gold medals, with athletes receiving luxurious gifts and apartments from Kim Jong Un. However, after falling short of a 5-gold target at the 2016 Rio Olympics, athletes reportedly faced poor living conditions and were made to work in coal mines. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, North Korea won 6 medals (2 silver, 4 bronze) but no golds, finishing 68th overall. While the claims of punishment persist, they remain unverified, and North Korea has not officially confirmed any repercussions for its athletes.