Olympic chiefs introduced Tuesday that Russian and Belarusian athletes competing on this summer time’s Paris Video games underneath a impartial flag won’t be able to participate within the opening ceremony. Particular person Impartial Athletes (AINs) from both nation ”won’t 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 govt board assembly of the Worldwide Olympic Committee in Lausanne. ”However a possibility might be supplied to them to expertise the occasion,” added Macleod. The AINs might 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 state of affairs mirrored that on the 1992 Barcelona Video games for ”Unbiased Olympic Individuals” from former Yugoslavia.
”The choice concerning the participation of AINs within the closing ceremony might be taken at a later stage, bearing in mind that it’s not 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 bit of greater than two weeks after the Olympics end.
The IOC in December suspended Russia from the 2024 Video games, however gave the inexperienced mild 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 12 months a variety of Olympic sports activities have eased restrictions, permitting athletes from each international locations to return to competitors underneath sure situations.
Nevertheless, 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 ”underneath the almost certainly state of affairs, 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, could 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 gained by the AINs won’t be displayed within the total medal desk.
”No flag, anthem, colors or some other identifications in any respect of Russia or Belarus might 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 might be invited to or accredited for the Olympic Video games Paris 2024.”
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