Olympic chiefs introduced Tuesday that Russian and Belarusian athletes competing on this summer season’s Paris Video games beneath a impartial flag won’t be able to participate within the opening ceremony. Particular person Impartial Athletes (AINs) from both nation “is not going to take part within the parade of delegations and groups throughout the opening ceremony since they’re particular person athletes”, IOC director James Macleod stated after an government board assembly of the Worldwide Olympic Committee in Lausanne. “However a possibility will likely be supplied to them to expertise the occasion,” added Macleod. The AINs will likely be on web site, he stated, however not included as passengers on the boat parade on the River Seine on July 26.
Macleod stated the situation mirrored that on the 1992 Barcelona Video games for “Unbiased Olympic Contributors” from former Yugoslavia.
“The choice concerning the participation of AINs within the closing ceremony will likely be taken at a later stage, making an allowance for that it isn’t groups that enter the closing ceremony, however all athletes collectively collectively.”
Athletes from each Russia and Belarus had already been banned from attending the opening ceremony of the Paralympics, beginning in Paris on August 28, a little bit greater than two weeks after the Olympics end.
The IOC in December suspended Russia from the 2024 Video games, however gave the inexperienced gentle for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals so long as they don’t actively assist the struggle on Ukraine.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus have confronted sanctions from a large number of sports activities since Moscow launched its assault on Ukraine in February 2022.
Over the previous yr a variety of Olympic sports activities have eased restrictions, permitting athletes from each nations to return to competitors beneath sure circumstances.
Nonetheless, Russians and Belarusians have remained banned from athletics.
Macleod added that there are at present 12 AINs with a Russian passport and 7 AINs with a Belarusian passport who’ve certified for Paris 2024, out of the 6,000 quota locations which have already been awarded for the Olympic Video games Paris 2024.
It’s at present projected that “beneath the most probably situation, 36 AINs with a Russian passport and 22 AINs with a Belarusian passport will qualify for the Olympic Video games”.
The utmost quantity, which Macleod stated was unlikely to be reached, can be 55 and 28 respectively.
Some 330 Russian athletes and 104 from Belarus took half within the Covid-delayed Tokyo Video games.
The IOC stated that AINs would have their very own flag and a lyric-less anthem. Medals received by the AINs is not going to be displayed within the total medal desk.
“No flag, anthem, colors or every other identifications in anyway of Russia or Belarus will likely be displayed on the Olympic Video games Paris 2024 in any official venue or any official operate,” the IOC stated.
“No Russian or Belarusian authorities or state officers will likely be invited to or accredited for the Olympic Video games Paris 2024.”
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