Paris 2024: Russian and Belarusian Athletes to Skip Opening Ceremony, IOC Confirms
The Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will not feature Russian and Belarusian athletes, as confirmed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board. This historic event, set to take place along a river on July 26, will proceed without the participation of athletes from these nations, the IOC announced on Tuesday.
Russian and Belarusian athletes will not take part in the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony. This will be the first ceremony held along a river and is scheduled for July 26, as announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board on Tuesday.
According to James Macleod, the IOC Director of Olympic Solidarity and National Olympic Committees Relations, AINs (Individual Neutral Athletes) will not be part of the parade of delegation teams during the opening ceremony. Since they are individual athletes, they will have the opportunity to still experience the event. This was shared at a news conference in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The Olympic rings are seen outside the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the opening day of a executive board meeting in Lausanne on March 19, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
The Olympic rings can be spotted outside the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters during the start of an executive board meeting in Lausanne on March 19, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
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A decision about the closing ceremony will be made later.
Athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport who meet game requirements are AINs. The executive board has also chosen a flag and anthem for them. The anthem does not have lyrics.
Medals won by an AIN athlete will not be displayed on a National Olympic Committee medal table. If an AIN athlete wins a medal, an AIN flag will be flown, and the AIN anthem will be played during the victory ceremonies.
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IOC: Russian and Belarusian athletes will not participate in Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony
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The IOC made a decision in December regarding Russian and Belarusian athletes amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. They will only be able to compete as individual neutral athletes at the upcoming Paris Games.
In order for teams to compete, they need to meet certain eligibility requirements. Athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to participate, and those who support the war in Ukraine will also be ineligible.
The Paris 2024 logo is displayed on the facade of Paris town hal.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
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Riverside ceremony
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin mentioned in an interview with French broadcaster France 2 that around 104,000 individuals are anticipated to gather along the Seine for the Opening Ceremony. Additionally, there will be approximately 220,000 people on elevated roadways spanning the six kilometer (almost four miles) area where the event will take place.
Due to security reasons, Darmann mentioned that the attendance capacity was reduced by half. However, he reassured that there was no particular terrorist threat aimed at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced earlier this month that Russian and Belarusian Paralympic athletes will not be participating in the Opening Ceremony scheduled for August 28.
The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics officially start on July 26 and conclude on August 11. The Paralympic Games begin on August 28 and end on September 8.
Editor's P/S:
The decision by the IOC to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony is a regrettable but necessary step in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. While it is understandable that athletes from these countries should not be allowed to compete as representatives of their nations, it is disheartening that they will be denied the opportunity to participate in the Games altogether. Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) will still be allowed to compete, but they will not be able to participate in the parade of delegation teams during the opening ceremony. This sends a clear message that the IOC stands against the war and will not tolerate any form of political interference in sport.
The IOC's decision is in line with its commitment to neutrality and the Olympic Charter, which states that "the practice of sport is a human right" and that "no discrimination is permitted on grounds of race, religion, political opinion, sex, or other reasons." By excluding Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Opening Ceremony, the IOC is sending a strong message that it will not tolerate any form of political interference in sport. This is a necessary step to protect the integrity of the Games and to ensure that they remain a symbol of peace and unity.
