The IOC confirms Russian athletes can compete at Paris Olympics with authorized impartial standing

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Some Russian athletes will probably be allowed to compete on the 2024 Paris Olympics, the IOC stated Friday, in a call that eliminated the choice of a blanket ban over the invasion of Ukraine.

The International Olympic Committee‘s decision confirms moves it started one year ago to reintegrate Russia and its military ally Belarus into global sports, and nine months after it urged sports governing bodies to look at ways to let individual athletes compete.

It is up to each Olympic sport’s governing physique to evaluate and implement impartial standing for particular person athletes who haven’t actively supported the battle and usually are not contracted to army or state safety businesses. Those who’re given impartial standing should compete with out nationwide id of flag, anthem or colors.

Russia stays banned from workforce sports activities.

The IOC stated eight Russians and three from Belarus are amongst 4,600 athletes worldwide who’ve to date certified for the Summer Games, which open in July.

Russia despatched 335 athletes to the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021 however solely dozens are more likely to compete in Paris.

Athletes and officers from Ukraine, together with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have repeatedly urged the IOC to exclude Russia and Belarus fully from the Olympics due to the invasion that began in February 2022.