Russia denounced Friday the “discriminatory conditions” imposed by the International Olympic Committee for Russian athletes to participate within the Paris 2024 Games, requiring them to compete as neutrals and never actively assist the Ukraine offensive.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier on Friday allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part as neutrals.
“The conditions are discriminatory, they are going against the principles of sport,” mentioned Russian sports activities minister Oleg Matytsin.
“They are damaging the Olympic Games themselves, and not Russian sport. The approach is unacceptable.”
He nonetheless mentioned that these athletes that may fulfil the situations will go to Paris.
“Of course, those sportsmen who achieved success at competitions and the right to take part will, probably, take part,” he mentioned.
“We always support our own, they are part of our sports family… no matter how much they try to split Russian society and pit athletes against each other,” he added.
The IOC Executive Board has determined that Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) who’ve certified by the present qualification techniques of the International Federations (IFs) on the sector of play can be declared eligible to compete on the Olympic Games Paris 2024 by the situations determined by the IOC.
“Individual Neutral Athletes are athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport. The strict eligibility conditions based on the recommendations issued by the IOC EB on 28 March 2023 for International Federations and international sports event organisers will be applied,” the IOC.
Like all the opposite athletes on the Olympic Games, the Individual Neutral Athletes may even must adjust to the foundations and rules relevant on the Olympic Games, together with anti-doping.
“Like all the other athletes, they will also have to sign the updated Conditions of Participation applicable for Paris 2024. This contains a commitment to respect the Olympic Charter, including “the peace mission of the Olympic Movement”,” the IOC mentioned on Friday.
The Individual Neutral Athletes can be invited by the IOC and their respective IFs. Only a really restricted variety of athletes will qualify by the present qualification techniques of the IFs.
Among the 4,600 athletes from world wide who’ve certified for Paris 2024 thus far, there are solely 11 Individual Neutral Athletes (eight with a Russian passport plus three with a Belarusian passport). In comparability, thus far, greater than 60 Ukrainian athletes have certified for Paris 2024. It is anticipated that the Ukrainian delegation goes to be across the identical dimension as on the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
The strict eligibility situations for Individual Neutral Athletes at Paris 2024 embody the situation that no flag, anthem, colors or some other identifications in anyway of Russia or Belarus can be displayed on the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in any official venue or any official perform.
Qualified athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport can be entered as, and compete as, Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) whereas groups of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport won’t be thought of.
Athletes who actively assist the struggle won’t be eligible to be entered or to compete. Support personnel who actively assist the struggle won’t be entered.
Athletes, who’re contracted to the Russian or Belarusian navy or nationwide safety businesses won’t be eligible to be entered or to compete. Support personnel who’re contracted to the Russian or Belarusian navy or nationwide safety businesses won’t be entered.
Any such Individual Neutral Athlete, like all the opposite taking part athletes, should meet all anti-doping necessities relevant to them within the lead-up to and on the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and notably these set out within the anti-doping guidelines of the IFs.
The sanctions in opposition to these accountable for the struggle, the Russian and Belarusian states and governments, stay in place for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. This signifies that no Russian or Belarusian authorities or state officers can be invited to or accredited for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
(With inputs from Agencies)
