The International Olympic Committee has announced that athletes from Russia and Belarusian will not participate in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, athletes from both nations were banned from attending the opening ceremony, but will be allowed to compete as neutrals.
Sharing that athletes from the two nations will not participate in the opening ceremony, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated, "Since they are individual athletes, an opportunity will be provided to them to experience the event."
Among the 6,000 quota spots that have already been allotted, 12 individual neutral athletes holding a Russian passport and seven individual neutral athletes holding a Belarusian passport have qualified for Paris 2024.
One requirement for their involvement in the Paris Games this summer is that they must compete without wearing any national flags, insignia, or anthems.
IOC also described Russia's proposal to organize the 'Friendship Games as "a cynical attempt to politicize sport."
The IOC continued: "The Russian government has launched a very intensive diplomatic offensive by having government delegations and ambassadors, as well as ministerial and other governmental authorities, approaching governments around the world."
"Total disrespect for the global anti-doping standards and the integrity of competitions," is another thing the Russian government is displaying, as per IOC.
Athletes who are compelled to compete in the Friendship Games may encounter unwarranted pressures, such as the possibility of being "exploited as part of a political propaganda campaign," according to the IOC.
