Paris Olympics: Russian and Belarusian athletes allowed to compete despite ongoing Ukraine war

Individual athletes who qualify for the Games can compete as ‘neutrals’ without flags, emblems, or anthems. No teams are allowed, nor are athletes who actively support the war in Ukraine, or are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military.

“Only a very limited number of athletes will qualify through the existing qualification systems of the (governing bodies),” the IOC said in a statement.

The Olympic body also said no Russian or Belarusian government or state official would be invited to or accredited for Paris 2024. But, it added, no athlete should be punished for the actions of their governments.

Russian and Belarusian athletes had been banned from international competition following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for which Belarus has been used as a staging ground.

In March, the IOC issued a recommendation for international sports federations to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to international sports – and they have for most events.

But Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky, with the support of 30 western countries — including Britain and the US – has called for a complete ban as the war continues.

While Paris 2023 organisers reportedly “took note” of the IOC’s decision, there was fierce backlash from Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba blasted the “shameful” decision, saying the IOC had given Russia “the green light to weaponise the Olympics”.

“Because the Kremlin will use every Russian and Belarusian athlete as a weapon in its propaganda warfare,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“I urge all partners to strongly condemn this shameful decision, which undermines Olympic principles.”

Ukraine Olympic skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych told Reuters while he was “fully okay” for athletes to compete, they risked being used as “Russian propaganda”.

“If we give this opportunity to use international sport as Russian propaganda … then more people (are) going on the front line. And more innocent people (are) dying from both sides,” he said.

“(The) IOC should understand and take responsibility for that. It’s very important to not give up and to push IOC and to call them to see some common sense in this decision and to change it.”

Ukraine sports minister Matviy Bidniy took to Telegram to criticise the “irresponsible decision”, saying it “enables Russian and Belarusian athletes to hide behind fake neutrality”.

“We explained to our international partners and the Olympic Committee that Russian athletes have the same passports as occupiers who kill Ukrainians. And that means they bear the same responsibility for the deaths of Ukrainians,” he wrote.

“In a time of war, they cannot hide behind the white flag of ‘neutrality’.”

Meanwhile, Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin also condemned the IOC decision, saying the conditions set for Russian athletes to compete in the Games were “discriminatory”.

“Participation in the Olympics is an athlete’s dream. But the conditions are discriminatory and go against the principles of sports,” he was quoted by TASS news agency, Reuters reports.

“By doing so, they harm the Olympic Games themselves, and not Russian sports. The approach is absolutely unacceptable.”

Although the IOC will allow Russian and Belarusian qualifiers to compete in the 2024 Games, World Athletics declared that such athletes, personnel and officials would not be welcomed back.

“All athletes, support personnel and officials from Russia and Belarus are excluded from all World Athletics Series events, and from hosting any International or European athletics events,” World Athletics said in response to the IOC decision.

“We will continue to monitor the situation but unless there is a major change in circumstances between now and the Olympic Games, this exclusion will apply to Paris 2024.

“It is the IOC’s remit to decide which countries are invited to participate at the Olympic Games, but it is the responsibility of the IFs (international federations) to decide which athletes within their sport are eligible to compete.”

Of 4600 athletes, globally, who have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics so far, eight are Russians and three hold Belarusian passports. More than 60 Ukrainians have qualified.

The IOC insisted that its decision was backed by sports and athletes. “The view of the overwhelming majority of athletes is not to punish fellow athletes for the actions of their government,” it said.

with Reuters