“We are the only team without a flag here”: behind-the-scenes work of a behavioral scientist with an Olympic team at the Paris 2024 games

The Paris 2024 Olympics presented a unique and challenging experience for the Israeli delegation, as athletes competed under the shadow of war and heightened security concerns. Unlike other teams, Israeli athletes were housed in relative isolation, without visible national symbols, due to geopolitical threats. The psychological burden of competing while Israel was under attack added an additional layer of complexity to their Olympic journey. Despite these adversities, Israel secured an impressive seven medals demonstrating remarkable resilience and elite performance. By using Turner's theory of liminality (1969) and integrating the Meta-Model of Adaptation in Sport (MAS), this paper explores how athletes navigated both fast and prolonged adaptation processes to sustain performance under extreme conditions. By looking behind the scenes of behavioral science intervention, this study examines the intersection of sport, national identity, and geopolitical conflict, highlighting the mental and emotional challenges faced by the Israeli delegation. This critical review suggests that, for Israel, the Olympics are never merely a sporting event but a platform for national representation and perseverance. The case of Paris 2024 underscores the broader implications of global politics on athletic performance and participation, demonstrating the necessity of adaptive psychological strategies in high-pressure environments.