Some athletes from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but under neutral status.
The decision came shortly after the committee began reintegrating individual athletes from the two countries amid the war in Ukraine.
The committee said in a release that the ban on athletes and support personnel “contracted” by the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies from participating in the games and entering the country will remain in place.
In July, the IOC announced that Russia and Belarus would not receive official invitations to the Games in Paris next year.
Notwithstanding, the committee’s ethics commission earlier in the spring issued guidelines for international sporting events that could possibly open the door for those with passports from the two countries to avoid being barred from competing as neutral athletes. It follows that Athletes granted neutral status will have to compete without their country’s flag, anthem and colours. They will be given a uniform of light blue colour.
According to the IOC, 4,600 athletes from around the world have so far qualified for the Paris Games. But only 11 of them are considered neutral. Among them are eight Russians and three Belarusians. By comparison, more than 60 Ukrainian athletes have qualified.
