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IOC sets unacceptable terms for Russia’s neutral-status participation in 2024 Olympics

Paris is scheduled to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games between July 26 and August 11, 2024

MOSCOW, February 6. /TASS/. The conditions articulated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) under which Russian athletes can compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as neutrals are wholly unacceptable, Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation President Irina Viner said on Tuesday.

"The IOC rolled out unacceptable conditions for Russia, stipulating the [national team’s] participation under a white flag. It should lie heavy on the IOC’s conscience," Viner said in an interview with Russia’s Sport-Express daily.

Paris, known as the "City of Light," is scheduled to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games between July 26 and August 11, 2024.

In mid-December 2023, Viner told TASS that Russia’s national rhythmic gymnastics team would refuse to participate in international competitions if it could not fly the colors of the Russian national flag and could not sound the strains of the Russian national anthem.

On December 8, 2023, the IOC allowed Russians and Belarusians to compete in the Olympic Games in Paris under a neutral status. The IOC reported that athletes from Russia and Belarus would not be allowed to participate in any team events.

Participation in the Olympics will also be denied to those who actively support hostilities. Individuals associated with the army or national security organizations will not be allowed to compete in the Olympics. Officials will not be accredited to the competition. The display of official symbols of Russia and Belarus will be prohibited.

IOC sanctions against Russia, Belarus

On February 28, 2022, the International Olympic Committee 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 2022, the majority of global sports federations decided to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international sports tournaments.

In late March, 2023, the IOC recommended to permit individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in international sports tournaments, but only under certain conditions. Specifically, athletes from the two countries should not be "actively supporting" Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and must compete under a neutral status. Russia and Belarus were also banned from participating in international team events.

On July 26, 2023, the IOC extended invitations to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris to 203 National Olympic Committees. Russia and Belarus did not receive invitations. The IOC explained later that there was no deadline regarding the issue of Russian and Belarusian athletes’ participation.

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