They will have to show their credentials. According to RMC Sport, all athletes who aim to carry the flag of the French delegation during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will have to present an extract from their criminal record and a sworn statement in order to ensure the absence of disciplinary and/or criminal sanction on any matter relating to doping, manipulation of competitions or sexist and sexual violence. These criteria will be specified in letters sent to the presidents of the federations in the coming days.
They specify the criteria that we revealed on March 12: candidates must have already experienced the Olympic Games at least once and cannot have already carried the flag. Two points which excluded some French sports stars like Victor Wembanyama, Antoine Dupont or Teddy Riner and Clarisse Agbégnénou. The last ethical criterion closes the door to the handball player Nikola Karabatic and, probably, to the pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie or the volleyball player Earvin Ngapeth.
Nikola Karabatic de facto dismissed
The extract from the criminal record that candidates must provide is bulletin number 3, linked to prison sentences for crimes and misdemeanors. None are affected by this aspect. On the other hand, Renaud Lavillenie and Earvin Ngapeth were given suspended prison sentences in 2007 and 2023 (entries on bulletin number 1 of the criminal record). Finally, for Nikola Karabatic, another point will weigh: the attestation on honor on any matter relating to the manipulation of competitions. In 2016, he was sentenced to two months in prison in a Paris case.
As has been the case since the Rio Games (previously, the flag bearer was designated by a committee or by the president of the CNOSF), each federation must provide two names (a man and a woman), or even just one if she wishes it, the CNOSF also wishes to reduce the number of candidates as much as possible. Then comes the time for voting. All those selected for the Olympics (around 550 athletes) should vote. The consultation will not take place until the beginning of July, after the last selection committee.
