European countries refuse the participation of Russian athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics

Today, Tuesday, several Olympic and Paralympic committees in Northern Europe announced their refusal to participate again in international sports for Russia and Belarus, and to compete specifically in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris 2024.

Two weeks ago, the International Olympic Committee opened the door for athletes from the two countries to return to tournaments under a neutral flag, as long as they did not actively support the Russian invasion of Ukraine, they said.

And the committees of the Nordic countries, namely Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland, announced their rejection and sent it on Tuesday to various international organizations, including the International Olympic Committee. “It is not the right time for such considerations. Nothing has changed in the brutal Russian war against Ukraine.”

The statement added: “We are working in close dialogue with the relevant stakeholders to assess the situation, and everyone reaffirmed their support for the Ukrainian people and called for peace.”

For her part, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo expressed today, Tuesday, her opposition to the participation of Russian athletes in the Olympics in light of the continuing war on Ukraine, according to what the accompanying delegation made clear after an interview with France Info radio on Tuesday.

Before that, other European countries such as Poland and the Baltic states opposed the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in sporting events, while the Ukrainian Olympic Committee threatened to boycott the Games.