Official medal tally from the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

IOC Limits Russian, Belarusian Athletes to 15 Under Neutral Flag for Paris Olympics

Jul 18, 2024, 08:16 AM

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has significantly reduced the number of Russian athletes allowed to compete in the Paris Summer Olympics, with only 15 athletes participating under a neutral flag. This decision follows restrictions imposed by the IOC, including the absence of the Russian flag and anthem, and no Olympic broadcast to Russia. The athletes competing are designated as 'Individual Neutral Athletes'. Despite these measures, investigations and reports suggest that many of these athletes, including Belarusian athletes, have links to military or national security agencies or have shown support for the war in Ukraine. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has declared that Russians are not welcome in the city, further complicating the situation. The Games are scheduled to take place from July 26 to Aug 11, with some athletes risking their lives by going against the state and Putin.