The organizing committee of the Olympics in Paris promised to follow the decision of the IOC on the admission of Russians
The organizing committee expressed the hope that the Olympics will be held in the spirit of peace and respect for the values of brotherhood and solidarity
Photo: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images
The organizing committee of the Olympic Games in Paris said Reutersthat they will follow the decision of the IOC regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes.
“With regard to the presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Games in Paris, it should be recalled that the qualification system is determined by the international federations, the IOC and the IPC. We want the Olympic Movement, the Paralympic Movement and the athletes to hold the Games in Paris in the spirit of peace, respecting the values of brotherhood and solidarity,” the organizing committee said.
The qualification of Russian athletes for the Olympics was under threat due to the recommendations of the IOC published in February 2022 on their removal from international competitions. Most sports federations followed these recommendations, which closed the possibility for Russians to participate in tournaments.
25 January IOC allowed the return of the Russians under strict conditions to be finally determined in consultation with the International Federations, and supported the invitation of the Russians by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to tournaments in the region.
Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) spoke against any restrictions for athletes.
In turn, Ukraine threatened boycott the Games if the Russians are admitted. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in December demanded from the IOC the complete isolation of Russian athletes, and on the eve of the IOC’s statement about the possible return of the Russians, he told his French colleague Emmanuel Macron that they had no place at the Games.
Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo declaredthat athletes should not be denied the opportunity to compete.
The Paris Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
After the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russian athletes competed at the Games in a limited composition due to a doping scandal. At the same time, they went to Korean Pyeongchang in 2018 under a neutral flag (OAR, Olympic athletes from Russia), and to Beijing in 2022 under the flag of the ROC.
