In a decision announced on Friday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has granted permission for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals in the upcoming Paris Olympics.
This approval comes with certain conditions, including refraining from actively supporting the war in Ukraine.
The IOC clarified that currently, only eight athletes from Russia and three from Belarus have qualified as neutral athletes, a stark contrast to the over 60 Ukrainian athletes who have secured their spots for the Paris Games.
No invites for Russian, Belarusian Government, or state officials
The IOC Executive Board stated, “those Athletes from Independent Nations (AINs) who have qualified through the existing qualification systems of the International Federations (IFs) on the field of play will be declared eligible to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.” However, they must adhere to strict eligibility criteria.
Athletes who are “actively supporting the war” or are “under contract to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security services” will not be eligible to compete. Additionally, there will be no display of the Russian or Belarusian flag, anthem, colors, or other national identification at any official venue or event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Furthermore, the IOC made it clear that no Russian or Belarusian government or state officials will be invited or accredited to the Paris Games.
Discrimination
Russia has expressed its opposition to the conditions imposed on its athletes, branding them as “discriminatory.” However, Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin affirmed that athletes meeting the criteria will still participate in the Paris Olympics, despite the objections. He stated, “The conditions are discriminatory. They go against the principles of sport. They are causing damage to the Olympic Games themselves, not to Russian sport. The approach is unacceptable.”
In the realm of athletics, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe emphasized that no neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus would be competing at the Games, reiterating the sport’s longstanding ban on athletes from these countries.
Coe stated, “You may well see some neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus in Paris, it just won’t be in athletics. The position that our sport took and has consistently taken is unchanged.”
Russian and Belarusian athletes have faced sanctions across various sports since Russia’s military actions in Ukraine began in February 2022. While some Olympic sports have gradually eased restrictions under certain conditions, athletics remains an exception, with Russian and Belarusian athletes excluded from competition in the discipline.
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