Paris mayor opposes Russian athletes' participation in 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo expressed her opposition to Russian athletes taking part in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and being present at the Opening Ceremony set for July 26.

In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Hidalgo stated, "I would rather they do not come." She further criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a dictator who poses a threat to Europe and is currently involved in a conflict with Ukraine, depriving its people of their rights to exist as a nation.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in December that athletes from Russia and Belarus who have qualified for Paris 2024 can participate as neutral athletes. This decision applies to individual athletes who meet the eligibility criteria and does not include teams from these countries.

It will be challenging to identify these neutral athletes, especially considering Putin's strong focus on Russian athletes.

The IOC is still deciding if Russian and Belarusian athletes can join the Opening Ceremony under a neutral flag. They will make a decision in their upcoming session later this month.

Recently, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that Russian and Belarusian Paralympic athletes will not be participating in the Opening Ceremony on August 28th.

Hidalgo told Reuters that she thought the decision of the Paralympic movement was fair. She mentioned that it is now the International Olympic Committee's turn to make their decision. Hidalgo also stated that she was not going to pressure anyone. As the Mayor of Paris, she said she was simply sharing her opinion.

Hidalgo stated that she does not support imposing any restrictions on Israeli athletes. She emphasized the importance of diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire and to prevent harm to civilians in Gaza.

Russians competed as neutral athletes at Tokyo 2020.

Russians competed as neutral athletes at Tokyo 2020.

Loic Venance/AFP/Getty Images

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin stated on Wednesday that Russia should not boycott the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Matytsin expressed his opinion, saying, "Now, the question of competing at the Olympic Games is on everyone's minds. My stance is clear: we should not isolate ourselves, shut ourselves off, or boycott this event."

Matytsin emphasized the importance of maintaining open dialogue and striving for fair competition. He mentioned that he is taking his time to decide on Russia's involvement in the Games, allowing the IOC to share its stance on the rules and potential participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Olympics.

The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics are scheduled to start on July 26 and conclude on August 11. Following this, the Paralympic Games will commence on August 28 and wrap up on September 8.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo's stance against their presence reflects a growing sentiment of condemnation towards Russia's actions in Ukraine. However, the IOC's decision to allow individual neutral athletes to participate has raised questions about the feasibility of identifying and verifying their non-association with the Russian state.

Hidalgo's opposition to Russian athletes is understandable given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis it has caused. The IPC's decision to ban Russian and Belarusian Paralympic athletes from the Opening Ceremony further underscores the international community's disapproval of Russia's actions. The IOC is facing pressure to follow suit and make a clear statement regarding the participation of Russian athletes in Paris. The upcoming session later this month will be crucial in determining the final outcome of this ongoing debate.