Russian and Belarusian athletes eligible to compete as neutrals at Paris 2024 under certain conditions

The IOC Allows Russian and Belarusian Athletes to Compete as Neutrals at Paris 2024

In an unexpected turn of events, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made a puzzling announcement regarding Russian and Belarusian athletes participating in Paris 2024. The IOC declared that these athletes could compete as neutral participants if they meet specific eligibility criteria.

This decision solely pertains to individual athletes and does not extend to teams representing these countries, according to the official statement released by the IOC. Notably, those athletes who have ties to military services or openly support the ongoing conflict will not be granted eligibility.

The IOC clarified that “Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs)” who have qualified through established international federation systems are eligible for competition at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. These AINs hold either Russian or Belarusian passports, as specified by the IOC.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, both Russian and Belarusian athletes faced restrictions from competing on various platforms globally beginning February 2022. However, amidst controversy surrounding this decision, a pathway was outlined by the IOC in March for their potential participation at Paris 2024 next year.

A joint reaction from Global Athlete and Ukrainian Athletes criticized this move by stating it could inadvertently bolster Russia’s propaganda efforts rather than being viewed positively. Despite objections raised against these arrangements, only a handful of Russian and Belarusian passport holders had already secured qualification spots for Paris 2024 out of over 4600 total confirmed participants.

No national symbols such as flags or anthems representing Russia or Belarus will be displayed during any official proceedings at Paris 2024 – ensuring neutrality is maintained throughout the event duration. This measure aligns with past practices where individual athlete rights were upheld despite organizational suspensions during previous Olympics.

Russian and Belarusian Para-Athletes Approved for Competition under Neutral Flag

In parallel developments, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) opted against completely barring national Paralympic committees from Russia and Belarus post voting outcomes in September. Consequently, para-athletes hailing from these nations also gained approval to participate under a neutral banner alongside their able-bodied counterparts at next year’s Paralympic Games.