International sports organizations are imploring the IOC to grant Russian athletes the chance to compete in the upcoming Summer Games in Paris.
Qualified athletes, representing Russia under a neutral banner, ought to be eligible for participation in Paris, according to leading summer sports associations and the continent-wide committees of National Olympic Committees. The IOC should promptly address this issue, as urged by these federations during the Olympic Summit in Lausanne.
IOC leaders, headed by President Thomas Bach, have reiterated that Russian and Belarusian athletes could potentially participate under stringent conditions. Participants would only be allowed to participate in Paris as individual athletes, not part of a team, and under a neutral flag with no affiliation to the military or security services.
Belarus also faces exclusion
This comes in response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Belarus played a supportive role in the conflict and consequently faced initial exclusion from international sports events post-conflict commencement. The IOC later opened a pathway for Russia and Belarus to rejoin major sports events, establishing guidelines for participation in competitions.
These guidelines were intended to help athletes meet the qualification criteria for the Summer Games. Several world federations followed suit, permitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to contest again.
The International Paralympic Committee also lifted its comprehensive ban on Russia in September, allowing Russian disabled athletes to compete in the Paralympics in Paris under a neutral banner. This move was viewed as a precursor to a similar decision by the IOC.
Enrichment Data:
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is scrutinizing the participation of Russian athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics under a neutral flag, primarily in light of their stance on Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict. The following key points outline the IOC's considerations:
- Neutral Flag: The IOC has approved the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals in the 2024 Paris Olympics, without national flags or anthems, in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine[1][4].
- Eligibility Criteria: Eligibility for neutral status is contingent on athletes not supporting Russia's war against Ukraine and having no ties with the Russian military or special services, including sports clubs like Dynamo and CSKA[4].
- IOC Commission: The IOC has established a special commission to assess each eligible Russian and Belarusian athlete, ensuring compliance with the criteria for neutral status. This includes evaluating their support for Russia's war and absence of ties with the military or special services[4].
- Individual Cases: The IOC has designated quotas for Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) in each sport, eligible to compete in Paris. However, some athletes, like Russian wrestlers, have opted out due to concerns surrounding the selection process and the exclusion of certain teammates[4][5].
- Federation Decisions: Leading sports federations, such as the International Gymnastics Federation (IGF) and the International Wrestling Federation (UWW), have made their own decisions regarding the participation of Russian athletes. For example, the UWW decided to reinstate Russian athletes under their flag, rather than as neutrals, following rule adjustments for admission[5].
In summary, the IOC's decision on the participation of Russian athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics under a neutral flag is influenced by stringent criteria regarding their stance on the Ukraine conflict and their connections with the Russian military or special services.
