Olympics 2024: Russians, Belarusians allowed to compete in neutral status

On December 8, the International Olympic Committee allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in the 2024 Games in neutral status

This is reported by the official website of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Russians and Belarusians will only be able to compete in individual events at the 2024 Olympics; the IOC decision does not apply to team sports.

Athletes who actively support the war will allegedly not be allowed to participate in the 2024 Olympics. According to the International Olympic Committee, as of December 8, 2023, only 11 "neutral athletes" had met the criteria for admission to the 2024 Olympics - 8 with Russian passports and 3 with Belarusian passports.

The national symbols of the Russian Federation and Belarus, namely the anthem, flag and other attributes, will be banned. Neutral athletes are required to sign a statement of support for the Olympic Charter.

Athletes who are under contract in the armed forces of Russia or Belarus or in other military formations will also not be allowed.

• On July 27, Ukraine's Ministry of Youth and Sports issued an order allowing Ukrainian athletes to participate in competitions where Russians and Belarusians compete in a neutral status, rather than under their own flags. Thus, Ukraine abandoned its boycott of tournaments where athletes from Russia and Belarus compete in a neutral status.
• On August 14, the Ministry of Sports announced that Ukraine will compete in the 2024 Olympics, even if Russians and Belarusians participate in the Games in a neutral status.