Russia allowed to compete in 2024 Paris Olympics as ‘neutral’ athletes

The International Olympic Committee announced Friday that it will allow Russian athletes to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics next summer, despite the recent suspension of the country’s national Olympic committee and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Under the IOC’s rules, Russian athletes and their Belarusian counterparts will have to compete under the emblem and name of ‘Individual Neutral Athletes’ (AINs) − an attempt to ban the nations from appearing in a formal capacity without banning their athletes. To qualify as ‘neutral athletes,’ those with Russian or Belarusian passports will be required to meet a list of conditions, including that they refrain from signaling any support for the war.

“We do not punish or sanction athletes for the acts of their officials or government,’ IOC president Thomas Bach said in October, repeating the organization’s long-held stance.

This will be the fourth consecutive Olympics at which Russia is technically barred, but its athletes are welcomed under a different name. In 2018, it was ‘Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR).’ In 2021 and 2022, athletes technically represented the ‘Russian Olympic Committee (ROC)’ rather than the nation itself.

The IOC’s decision drew immediate backlash from Ukraine. Vadym Gutzeit, the president of the country’s Olympic committee, said in a statement that the news came one day after he reiterated to Olympic leaders that Ukraine did not believe any Russian or Belarusian athletes should participate in the Games.

‘Together with partner countries, we fought on the diplomatic front so that this decision was not approved,’ Gutzeit said. ‘Despite all efforts made, despite the numerous military and civilian casualties, destruction of infrastructure and occupied territories, our voice has not been heard.’

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken an even stronger stance on the issue, saying in January that ‘it is obvious that any neutral flag of Russian athletes is stained with blood.’

‘There is no such thing as neutrality when a war like this is going on,’ Zelenskyy said in a taped speech at the time.

Ukrainian leaders have previously left open the possibility that the country could boycott the Paris Games, if Russian athletes were allowed to compete.

The news also did not receive a warm reception in Russia, where government leaders have said they think their athletes are being unfairly targeted. The country’s sports minister, Oleg Matytsin, said Friday that the IOC’s decision was detrimental to the Olympic movement but that Russian athletes will still compete and have the nation’s support.

‘We always root for ours,’ he said, according to Russian news agency, Tass. ‘These are our athletes, members of our sports family, a product of our sports system − no matter how they tried to shred it, to create a split within Russian society, to pit some athletes against others.’

The IOC outlined a path earlier this year for Russian athletes to return to elite international competition but repeatedly punted on a final decision for the 2024 Paris Olympics, saying it would only make a determination when ‘the time is right.’ That time apparently arrived in the late-afternoon hours in Lausanne, where the organization is based.

The IOC’s decision does come with caveats. Russia and Belarus will not be permitted to field teams in any team sports, and their individual athletes will only be allowed to compete in sports where the international federation has allowed them to compete in qualifying events, like fencing and swimming. The international federations in other sports, like track and field, have maintained a strict ban of Russian and Belarusian athletes since 2022.

‘Only a very limited number of athletes will qualify through the existing qualification systems of the (international federations),’ the IOC said, adding that only eight Russians and three Belarusians have qualified for Paris so far.

According to the IOC’s requirements, any medals won by ‘neutral athletes’ will not be included in official medal tables. Their uniforms must be white or monochromatic, with an ‘AIN’ emblem. There will be no Russian or Belarusian flags raised, nor anthems played, nor political or government officials from the two countries in attendance.

The IOC has also said that Russian or Belarusian athletes who are affiliated with their country’s military or ‘actively support the war’ will not be eligible to compete in Paris, though there are lingering questions and concerns about how active support can be ascertained; The IOC said it will work with international federations to conduct background checks and reviews of social media activity.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on social media @Tom_Schad.