Israel’s Olympians head for Paris: We are on a ‘national mission’

Israel’s Olympic delegation takes off for Paris ahead of the opening ceremony of the Games on Friday.

“We feel like emissaries of the State of Israel — our athletes, every one of them, are here to achieve their goals, but there is another layer, of a national mission,” says Yael Arad, the president of the Olympic Committee of Israel, in a press conference at Ben Gurion Airport ahead of the delegation’s departure.

Arad says the athletes are obviously hoping for medals, “but our first victory is that we’re here, that we didn’t give up, that since October 7 we’ve taken part in hundreds of competitions… What is leading us is the flag of Israel.”

The athletes are also dispatched with words from Meirav Leshem Gonen, the mother of hostage Romi Gonen, who tells the group that “you are an inspiration to all of us.”

Noting that they are likely to face a hostile reception from many in Paris, Leshem Gonen tells the athletes that “a whole nation stands behind you,” and asks them to not forget the hostages, those who were killed and those who are still fighting: “Keep your heads up with pride, to show that anyone who thinks they can break us has no chance.”

The soccer team departed last week, as they face their first match on Wednesday evening against Mali, before competing against Paraguay on Saturday night and Japan next week. The sailing delegation left yesterday, as did gymnast Artem Dolgopyat and archers Roy Dror and Mikaella Moshe.