IOC Approves Russia's Participation in Paris Olympics... Ukraine Immediately Protests

Participation Conditions Presented for Individual Neutral Qualification Without Team Events

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics under the status of 'Individual Neutral Athletes.' Ukraine immediately opposed this decision, criticizing it as a shameful choice.

On the 8th (local time), the IOC held an executive board meeting and announced that it had finalized and approved the participation criteria for Russian athletes, who invaded Ukraine in February last year, and Belarusian athletes, who assisted in the invasion, for the Paris Olympics.

Olympic symbol of the five rings sculpture in front of Paris City Hall, France
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

During the decision-making process, the IOC referred to athletes from the two countries using the term 'Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs)' for the first time. If athletes from these two countries participate in the Paris Olympics, they will be designated as AINs.

Since AIN status is an individual qualification, athletes cannot participate in Olympic team events. They are also prohibited from using their national flags or playing their national anthems. They must not be active military personnel or involved in their country's military activities, nor express support for the war in Ukraine. Whether Russian and Belarusian athletes meet these requirements will be reviewed by the respective international sports federations (IFs) for each sport.

The IOC expects that only AINs limited to the Paris Olympics will participate. According to the IOC, among the 4,600 athletes qualified for the Paris Olympics, there are a total of 11 AINs: 8 Russian athletes and 3 Belarusian athletes.

Ukraine immediately reacted against the IOC's decision. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, posted on his social media account that "the IOC has sent a green light to Russia to 'weaponize' the Olympics." He also stated, "All allies must strongly condemn this shameful decision that undermines the principles of the Olympics."

The Paris Organizing Committee expressed solidarity with Ukraine in a statement but emphasized that "our responsibility is to welcome qualified athletes under the best possible conditions regardless of nationality," indicating that the IOC's decision is important.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the international community has called for restrictions on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Olympics. On the other hand, there have been opposing voices arguing that there should be no restrictions on athlete participation for any reason.

The IOC and the Paris Olympic Organizing Committee plan not to invite government officials from Russia and Belarus to the Olympics. They also intend not to issue access passes to the venues.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.