The Argentina-Morocco football match was suspended for nearly two hours amid pitch invasions, while Israel's national anthem was loudly jeered before the country's game against Mali in Paris.
ADVERTISEMENTThe Paris 2024 Olympic Games opened with a surprising 2-1 victory by Morocco's men's football team against pan-American champions Argentina in Saint-Étienne in a chaotic game suspended for nearly two hours after multiple individuals stormed the pitch.
Another stunning result came from Bordeaux, where Japan thrashed Paraguay 5-0, while France pleased the home crowds with a comfortable 3-0 win over the US.
The hosts got off to a less sparkling start in men's rugby sevens, beating Uruguay 19 to 12 but tied with the US 12-12.
Tokyo 2020 gold medallists Fiji defeated the US 38-12, as well as Uruguay 40-12, while Ireland overcame reigning world champions South Africa, 10 to 5, who also lost to New Zealand 17-5.
Loud jeers for Israel's national anthem
Israel's national anthem was loudly jeered before the kick-off of their opening Olympic game against Mali at Paris Parc des Princes in Paris on Wednesday.
The game began with a massive security presence outside the stadium amid an increasingly strained international climate with France's safety efforts squarely in the spotlight.
The Israeli team arrived under a heavy police escort, with motorbike riders at the front and about a dozen riot police vans following behind.
Armed police officers patrolled the Parc des Princes stadium, although the atmosphere outside the venue was calmer.
Mali fans sang proudly when their anthem was played first. When it came to Israel's anthem, boos and whistles immediately rang out. The stadium speaker system playing the anthems then got notably louder in what seemed like an effort to drown out the jeers.
Once play began, Israeli players were booed each time they touched the ball. Security officials intervened in what appeared to be a heated argument between some fans.
Several fans on the Mali stands were holding Palestinian flags.
Morocco stuns pan-American champions
Morocco secured a wild 2-1 win over Argentina at the start of the Olympic men's football tournament on Wednesday - but not before furious fans invaded the pitch to protest what appeared to be an equaliser in the 16th-minute stoppage time.
Objects were thrown onto the field, and security had to restrain fans, causing the game in Saint-Etienne to be suspended for nearly two hours and the crowd to be told to leave the stadium.
The goal was eventually ruled offside just before play resumed, sparking celebrations from Morocco players as the final minutes concluded.
It was a chaotic and dramatic start to the tournament after Argentina, which won gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and is viewed as the favourites in France, mounted a comeback after going 2-0 down on goals from Soufiane Rahimi.
ADVERTISEMENTGiuliano Simeone struck in the 68th minute, and Argentina peppered Morocco goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui with shots before Medina’s header from close range appeared to tie it.
That caused outrage from Morocco fans, who rushed the field while others threw trash, and the game was officially put on hold.
Rahimi had put Morocco ahead in first-half stoppage time, then converted on a penalty kick in the 49th, which proved to be the decisive goal against an Argentina team that included four members of the squad that won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Hosts France off to a good start
Stunning goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Michael Olise helped France to a 3-0 victory over the United States. Loic Bade added the third with a late header to seal a win that had looked in doubt until former Arsenal striker Lacazette struck with a long-range effort in the 61st minute in Marseille.
ADVERTISEMENTThe host nation had to ride their luck against an American team that saw a shot from Đorđe Mihailović hit the crossbar when the game was still goalless. Lacazette’s goal came almost immediately after.
Paris Olympics day 1 results
Men's Football, group stage
- Argentina 1-2 Morocco
- Uzbekistan 1-2 Spain
- Guinea-New 1-2 Zealand
- Egypt 0-0 Dominican Republic
- Iraq 2-1 Ukraine
- Japan 5-0 Paraguay
- France 3-0 US
- Mali 1-1 Israel
Rugby sevens, men's pool
- Australia 21-14 Samoa
- Argentina 31-12 Kenya
- France 12-12 US
- Fiji 40-12 Uruguay
- Ireland 10-5 South Africa
- New Zealand 40-12 Japan
- Australia 21-17 Kenya
- Argentina 28-12 Samoa
- France 19-12 Uruguay
- Fiji 38-12 US
- Ireland 40-5 Japan
- New Zealand 17-5 South Africa