IOC banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from Olympics 2024

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in the ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Last year, the IOC declared that Russian and Belarussian competitors would be able to compete in the Games as neutral athletes. Neutral athletes will not be able to accompany the national flag or anthem. On Tuesday, the committee proposed a set of regulations for neutral athletes.

Russian and Belarusian athletes won’t be allowed to take part in the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, the International Olympic Committee said. https://t.co/9F92iJKajB
— POLITICOEurope (@POLITICOEurope) March 20, 2024

Boats representing each national delegation will sail along the Seine River during the July opening ceremony. It marks the first time the ceremony will held outside of a stadium.

Hence, neutral athletes will not participate in the march of delegations (teams) during the Opening Ceremony because they are individual athletes. However, the committee stated neutral athletes would have the option to participate in the event.

The IOC said they expect 36 Russian and 22 Belarussian athletes to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024. However, athletes who “actively support the war” in Ukraine or are hired by military or security agencies are ineligible to compete.

The IOC also said it will decide later whether neutral athletes can participate in the closing ceremony. Last October, the IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee for violating the Olympic Charter by claiming regional sports organizations in four occupied Ukrainian territories.

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This decision of the IOC came due to the participation of Russia and Belarus in the Ukraine war. Due to the conflict in Ukraine, athletes who participate neutrally must follow the Olympic charter.

Otherwise, they may face disqualification from competing if they openly support the war in Ukraine. And if they do not completely cooperate with WADA’s (World Anti-Doping Agency) anti-doping rules.

In December 2023, the IOC announced conditional terms of eligibility for Russian and Belarussian athletes. It stated they would be eligible to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics if they stayed politically neutral.

Earlier, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in sporting competitions in 2022. Russia also couldn’t compete in the Olympics since 2017 following proof of state-sponsored doping.