Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to take part in the Paris Olympics as neutral athletes. The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted individual athletes from both countries permission to compete in the 2024 Summer Games under certain conditions. The international press writes:
Great Britain
„The Guardian“: “The highly controversial decision comes as a challenge from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and more than 30 Western countries – including Britain and the US – who had called for a total ban.”
Italy
“The Republic”: “The non-news is now official: At the games in Paris we will also see Russians and Belarusians without a flag or anthem.”
“Corriere della Sera”: “An early Christmas present for Moscow and Minsk spoiled the festive mood in Kiev yesterday, and not only there.”
“La Gazzetta dello Sport”: “Moscow is attacking, Ukraine is against it. And athletics confirms their no.”
Spain
“The country”: “Paris 2024 will open its slopes to Russian and Belarusian athletes, but on the flagpoles of its stadiums will fly neither the flag of the country that invaded Ukraine nor that of the regime that made its territory available to the offensive to start on Kiev.”
“The vanguard”: “Only low participation from these two countries is expected. Of the 4,600 athletes from all over the world who have qualified for Paris 2024 so far, there are only eleven neutral athletes, eight with Russian passports and three with Belarusian ones.”
France
“The world”: “To date, the IOC emphasizes, only eleven “individual neutral athletes” (eight Russians and three Belarusians) have qualified for the Olympic Games, compared to around 60 Ukrainian athletes. The question is crucial because the fear of seeing an absent or very weakened Ukrainian delegation in Paris has long worried the Olympic authorities and would have made the presence of Russian athletes even more sensitive, even without an anthem and a flag.”
A comment from Christoph Becker Published/Updated: Recommendations: 70 Published/Updated: Recommendations: 8 Anno Hecker Published/Updated: Recommendations: 5
Austria
“Kronen Zeitung”: “231 days before the Olympic opening ceremony, Thomas Bach’s IOC ended the timed game and paved the way for Russia’s athletes to Paris!”
