The International Olympic Committee has announced that athletes from Russia and Belarus will be barred from participating in the opening ceremonies in Paris. This decision comes as organizers aim to hold accountable those countries that are deemed responsible for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Athletes from those nations will have the opportunity to compete in individual events as “Individual Neutral Athletes” (AINs).
According to a statement from the IOC, AINs will not be participating in the parade of delegations (teams) during the Opening Ceremony as they are individual athletes.
The IOC stated that any Russian or Belarusian athletes who have connections with “military and national security agencies” will not be allowed to participate in the competition.
On February 24, 2022, Ukraine was invaded by Russia, with Belarus, Moscow’s ally and neighboring country to Ukraine, playing a crucial role in supporting the aggression.
There is a possibility that these athletes will still participate in the closing ceremonies.
“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the decision on whether Assistant International Navigators (AINs) will participate in the Closing Ceremony will be made at a later time. The IOC emphasized that it is not just the teams that enter the Closing Ceremony, but all athletes together as a collective.”
The opening ceremony of Paris 2024 is scheduled for Friday, July 26th.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that the sanctions will remain in place for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 against those responsible for the war, including the Russian and Belarusian states and governments.
A total of 12 athletes with a Russian passport and seven athletes from Belarus have successfully qualified for the games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that a total of 36 Russian athletes and 22 Belarusian athletes are expected to qualify in their respective sports.
If those athletes win gold, the celebrations will be limited.
If a Russian or Belarusian athlete wins the top podium spot, the AIN flag will be raised and its anthem will be played.
The Special Olympics, which organizes quadrennial summer and winter games, has also been affected by Russian aggression in Ukraine.
The Winter Games scheduled to take place in Kazan, Russia had to be canceled due to safety concerns.
Last year, the Summer games took place in Berlin, but unfortunately, athletes from Russia and Belarus were not able to participate.
According to a spokesperson from the Special Olympics, the decision to exclude the local organizing committee was intentional.