Russian, Belarusian athletes barred from Paris Olympics opening ceremony

Russian and Belarusian athletes won’t be allowed to take part in the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, the International Olympic Committee said Tuesday.

The IOC ruled last year that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to participate in the Games as neutral athletes, without an accompanying national flag or anthem. On Tuesday, the committee outlined a set of rules for neutral athletes.

During July’s opening ceremony, boats representing each national delegation will sail along the river Seine, marking the first time the ceremony will take place outside of a stadium. But neutral athletes “will not participate in the parade of delegations (teams) during the Opening Ceremony, since they are individual athletes,” the IOC said.

“But an opportunity will be provided for them to experience the event,” the committee added.

The IOC said it expects 36 Russian athletes and 22 Belarusians to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Athletes who “actively support the war” on Ukraine or are contracted to the military or security agencies are not eligible to compete.

The IOC said it will decide “at a later stage” whether to allow neutral athletes to participate in the closing ceremony.

Last October, the IOC banned the Russian Olympic Committee for breaching the Olympic Charter by claiming regional sports organizations in four occupied areas of Ukraine.