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IOC rules out allowing Russian athletes to compete under national flag

As the organization’s press service points out, "the sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian State and Governments are not negotiable"

MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will not allow Russian athletes to participate in international competitions with their national flag and anthem, the organization’s press service told TASS on Tuesday.

On February 25, President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Stanislav Pozdnyakov said he strongly disagreed with any restrictions, additional requirements and sanctions related to the national identity of Russian athletes.

"The sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian State and Governments are not negotiable. They have been unanimously confirmed by the recent Olympic Summit meeting on 9 December 2022. They are: No international sports events being organised or supported by an IF or NOC in Russia or Belarus. No flag, anthem, colours or any other identifications whatsoever of these countries being displayed at any sports event or meeting, including the entire venue," an IOC spokesperson said.

"No Russian and Belarusian Government or State official should be invited to or accredited for any international sports event or meeting," the spokesperson added.

On February 28, 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued recommendations to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from taking part in international tournaments, citing Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine as the reason.

Following the IOC’s recommendations in late February, the majority of global sports federations decided to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international sports tournaments.

At its January 25, 2023 session, the IOC Executive Board put forward a proposal to allow individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in international sports tournaments, but only under certain conditions. Athletes from the countries in question should not be "actively supporting" Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and must compete under a neutral status.