Paris 2024 Olympics: Russia & Belarus athletes will not be part of opening ceremony

By Rilwan Musa Gawu -

Russian and Belarusian athletes will not take part in the opening ceremony at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, says the International Olympic Committee.

Athletes from both countries were banned following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

However, athletes from Russia and Belarus who qualify for the Games can compete as neutrals.

A decision on them being part of the closing ceremony will be taken at a later date.

The IOC said they would not be part of the opening ceremony "since they are individual athletes, but an opportunity will be provided to them to experience the event".

So far, there are 12 individual neutral athletes with a Russian passport and seven individual neutral athletes with a Belarusian passport who have qualified for Paris 2024, of the 6,000 quota places already awarded.

For this summer's Games in Paris, the conditions of their inclusion include competing without flags, emblems or anthems of their country.

 

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