Russia at the Olympics: How Russian & Belarusian athletes can compete at Paris 2024

Russians at the Olympics: No Flag, No Anthem, No Medal Table

For the fourth consecutive Olympics, Russian athletes will compete under a neutral designation due to sanctions imposed on the country for its state-sponsored doping scandal and, more recently, its invasion of Ukraine. This time, they will be known as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs).

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided that Russian and Belarusian athletes who meet strict criteria can participate at Paris 2024 as neutrals. This means they will not be allowed to represent their nations officially and will compete without their flags or anthems. Additionally, their medals will not be included in the official medal table.

Russia has historically sent large delegations to the Olympics and is a medal-winning powerhouse. However, this time, the situation is very different. Only 15 Russian athletes have accepted the IOC's invitation to compete as AINs, a stark contrast to the 335 athletes who represented the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) at Tokyo 2020.

Russian sports federations, such as weightlifting and judo, have criticized the "humiliating conditions" and "unsportsmanlike selection principle," with some declining invitations for their athletes. Despite this, notable Russian athletes like former world number one tennis player Daniil Medvedev have chosen to participate.

The criteria for eligibility as an AIN include no active support for the war in Ukraine and no affiliation with the Russian or Belarusian military or security agencies. The athletes must compete as individuals, and their medals will not be attributed to any country in the official records.

At Paris 2024, AINs will compete under a teal and white flag featuring the AIN logo. A specially written anthem with no lyrics will be played if an AIN wins gold. Russian and Belarusian government officials are not invited or accredited for the Olympics.

The decision to allow AINs has sparked debate, with Ukrainian officials and President Volodymyr Zelensky expressing their disagreement. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also stated that Russian and Belarusian athletes were "not welcome." However, the UK government supported the IOC's decision to allow neutral participation.

The absence of many Russian athletes will open up opportunities for other nations in events typically dominated by Russia, such as artistic swimming and rhythmic gymnastics. The situation surrounding Russian participation in the Olympics reflects the ongoing tensions and consequences arising from the country's invasion of Ukraine.