Russians, Belarusians to be allowed to compete as neutral athletes at 2024 Paris Olympics.

Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) with "strict eligibility conditions," the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Dec.

8. Under the rules, Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be able to participate as teams nor display any flags or any official identification with either country. Athletes or support personnel who have openly supported the war will not be allowed, as will anyone who has served or is affiliated with either the military or security organizations of Russia or Belarus.

Russia was officially banned from competing in the Olympics for four years in 2019 due to systematic doping practices, but still participated in 2020 and 2022 under the flag of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). The ROC was suspended in October 2023 for declaring authority over the athletic organizations of Russian-occupied Ukraine.. So far, the IOC noted that only eight Russian athletes and three Belarusians have qualified, compared to more than 60 Ukrainians.

In July, the IOC announced it would not invite Russia or Belarus to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. IOC President Thomas Bach said on Oct.

14 that Russia's committee members won't be penalized because they have no ties to the country's military and do not support the war in Ukraine.

Opinion: It's time to ban Russian athletes from the 2024 Olympic Games The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Oct.

12 that it would suspend the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) after it incorporated the regional sports organizations from four territories illegally annexed from Ukraine.

In its statement, the IOC said the ROC's inclusion of Donetsk, Luhan...

The Kyiv IndependentMark Temnycky