– No one will welcome them to Paris. And then you just have to cross your fingers that they choose to stay away. It is a very bad solution, for Ukrainian athletes, for the confidence in the IOC and for the sport as such. That’s what news’s sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt says about the IOC’s decision to take Russian and Belarusian athletes back into the heat. He is disappointed by the decision, but not surprised. – It is sad that these are the values that sport’s most powerful body advocates, but there is nothing surprising about this decision at all. Everything has long indicated that this is the solution that Thomas Bach and his co-conspirators have wanted and actively worked for behind the scenes, says Saltvedt. Been banned since the outbreak of the war Due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the international special federations have long refused athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in international competitions. Several special federations, on the other hand, have allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate under a neutral flag. For a few months, athletes from both Russia and Belarus were given the go-ahead to participate in the Paralympics as neutral athletes with certain restrictions. It has therefore been in the air that the IOC would do the same. Russia has long accused the IOC of double standards. They have accused the IOC of handling the conflict between Israel and Palestine differently than the one between Russia and Ukraine. Russia presented demands to the IOC. – We demand that the IOC clearly and unequivocally end the practice of double standards and strictly apply equal treatment to all athletes without exception and without discrimination on any basis, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Tass. Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova. Photo: ALEXANDER NEMENOV / AFP In a statement on the IOC’s website published on Friday afternoon, the following is stated, among other things: – The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided that individual neutral athletes who have qualified through the existing qualification systems of the international federations can compete in the Olympics in Paris 2024. This also applies to athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport. The Olympics are held in the French capital from 26 July to 10 August. Expecting as many Ukrainian athletes as in 2020, the IOC writes that only a very limited number of athletes will be neutral. – Among the 4,600 athletes from around the world who have qualified for Paris 2024 so far, there are only eleven individual neutral athletes. Of which eight have Russian passports, while three have Belarusian passports, writes the IOC. In comparison, to date more than 60 Ukrainian athletes have qualified for Paris 2024. – It is expected that the Ukrainian delegation will be around the same size as at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, writes the IOC. The Ukrainian delegation during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Photo: AP The IOC emphasizes that the Russian and Belarusian athletes, like all other athletes in the Olympics, must sign the updated conditions of participation applicable to Paris 2024. – This includes an obligation to respect the Olympic legislation, including the “Peace Mission of the Olympic Movement”. Athletes who actively support the war are not allowed to participate The invitation to participate only applies to individual athletes, no teams from the two countries are allowed to compete in Paris, according to the IOC’s statement. It is also specified that athletes or support personnel who actively support the war may not participate. This also applies to athletes or support personnel contracted by Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies. Saltvedt is critical of how it will work in practice. – Many questions remain about how to prove which practitioners have supported the Putin regime and the war. And if the will is even present. And whether the Russians will accept this at all. The sanctions against those responsible for the war, and the Russian and Belarusian governments, remain in place also for the Paris 2024 Olympics. – This means that no flag, anthem, colors or other identification of Russia or Belarus will be displayed in any official arena or any official functions during the Olympics in Paris 2024, writes the IOC and continues: – Nor will any Russian or Belarusian authorities or state officials be invited to or accredited to the Olympics. The Olympic rings in front of Paris City Hall. Photo: AP The Olympic summits’ recommendation led to sharp criticism Earlier this year, the Olympic summits made a recommendation to allow Russians and Belarusians to return to sports under strict principles of neutrality. It quickly led to sharp criticism from several quarters. The recommendation did not apply to next year’s Summer Olympics in Paris and the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina in 2026. A decision regarding this was announced later. That decision therefore came on Friday.
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The IOC says that Russian and Belarusian athletes can participate in the Olympics as neutrals – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
