International Olympic Committee green lights Russian athletes for Paris 2024

The International Olympic Committee has given Russian athletes the green light for Paris 2024, sparking outrage across the world.

The International Olympic Committee has given the green light to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the 2024 Paris Games.

The IOC executive board released a statement on Wednesday, revealing that discussions with members, international federations and National Olympic Committees had concluded that “no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport”.

Any Russian or Belarusian athlete would be able to participate in the Paris Games as “neutral athletes, as is already happening in professional leagues and some professional sports”, assuming that they fully respect the Olympic Charter and have not actively supported the war in Ukraine.

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The statement comes after the Olympic Council of Asia offered to give Russian and Belarusian athletes access to Asian competitions in the lead-up to the Games.

Tennis players from Russia and Belarus have been competing at this year’s Australian Open as independent neutrals, with Russian and Belarusian flags banned at Melbourne Park.

A letter submitted to the Committee by Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations Human Rights Council stated that there was “serious concern” that banning Russian and Belarusian athletes on the basis of their nationality would raise “serious issues of non-discrimination.”

All UN Member States adopted a resolution by consensus in December last year that recognised “major international sports events “should be organised in the spirit of peace” and that “the unifying and conciliative nature of such events should be respected”.

Russian flags featuring the face of Vladimir Putin have been seen at Melbourne Park despite bans.

The IOC said it was committed to “full and unwavering solidarity with Ukrainian athletes and the Ukrainian Olympic community”, and reaffirmed the current sanctions in place on Russia and Belarus, which include no international events being organised by those nations, the prohibition on their flags, anthems and identifications, and the withdrawal of invitations for government and state officials for international sporting events.

Sport is an important part of Russian foreign policy, with the nation hosting a men’s FIFA World Cup, Winter Olympics, and Formula One Grand Prix prior to the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian state energy company Gazprom was previously also European football’s largest sponsor, with oligarch Roman Abramovich the previous owner of Premier League giants Chelsea.

“By allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete, the IOC is strengthening Russia’s propaganda machine, empowering the Putin regime, and undermining peace,” the statement reads. 2/2 @iocmedia@Paralympics

— Global Athlete (@GlobalAthleteHQ) January 25, 2023

The decision has been heavily criticised in a joint statement between non-profit Global Athlete and a collective of Ukrainian athletes, saying it “sends a message that the IOC endorses Russia’s brutal war and invasion of Ukraine.

“By allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete, the IOC is strengthening Russia’s propaganda machine, empowering the Putin regime, and undermining peace.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that Russia has complete control over the IOC and its leadership.

“As a servant of Russia, the IOC continues to be on the wrong side of history with this decision that favours politics over principle.

“The suspension of both Russian and Belarusian athletes and their sporting officials must be fully reinstated until Russia withdraws completely from Ukraine.”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Sport have been contacted for comment.

Originally published as International Olympic Committee green lights Russian athletes for Paris 2024