Russians, Belarusians will not take part in Paris Olympics opening parade of teams: IOC

Russian and Belarusian

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) declared on Tuesday that Russian and Belarusian athletes would not participate in the parade of athletes during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. This decision follows Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with athletes from these countries competing independently under a specially created flag and anthem without lyrics produced by the IOC. While the opening ceremony in Paris will not take place in a stadium but will be held on the river Seine, featuring teams floating past an estimated 300,000 spectators, athletes from Russia and Belarus, designated as individual neutral athletes (AINs), will not be part of this procession.

During an executive board meeting, the IOC clarified that although Russian and Belarusian athletes would not join the parade of delegations, they would participate in all other aspects of the opening ceremony apart from the team parade. Paris 2024 Games organizers affirmed this decision, emphasizing that athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports were selected as individual athletes rather than as delegations.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who has consistently opposed a Russian presence at the Paris Olympics, lauded the IOC's decision as a responsible step forward. She reiterated her stance against Russian participation, citing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

The IOC estimates that approximately 36 Russian and 22 Belarusian athletes will qualify for the Paris Olympics, a significant decrease from the Russian team of 330 athletes at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, while Belarus had a team of 104 athletes at the same Games. This reduction reflects the IOC's measures in response to geopolitical tensions and ensures that athletes from these countries can compete under neutral status without national symbols.

The exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes from the opening parade aligns with efforts to maintain the integrity and neutrality of the Olympic Games amidst geopolitical turmoil. It underscores the IOC's commitment to upholding the Olympic values of peace and unity while addressing the complex geopolitical challenges that impact international sporting events.

By implementing measures to ensure fair competition and uphold the Olympic spirit, the IOC aims to provide a platform for athletes worldwide to showcase their talent and sportsmanship while promoting unity and solidarity among nations. Despite the absence of Russian and Belarusian flags and anthems during the opening ceremony, the Paris 2024 Olympics will continue to celebrate the diversity of cultures and the shared pursuit of excellence in sport.