Athletes from each nations have confronted sanctions in a number of sports activities however could also be allowed to compete on the Paris 2024 Video games beneath a impartial flag.
Representatives of worldwide sports activities federations and nationwide Olympic committees have known as for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be admitted beneath a impartial flag for the 2024 Video games in Paris “as soon as possible”.
Athletes have moved nearer to being allowed to compete as neutrals at subsequent yr’s Paris Video games after an endorsement on the Olympic Summit in Lausanne on Tuesday.
On the summit, athlete representatives additionally requested for “clarity” on the difficulty, in accordance with a press release revealed after the assembly.
The Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) nonetheless has to make a closing ruling on whether or not athletes from Russia and Belarus, a key ally for Moscow in its offensive on Ukraine, will probably be permitted to compete subsequent summer season.
The IOC stated worldwide Olympic summer season sports activities federations, continental associations of nationwide Olympic committees, and the IOC Athletes’ Fee backed such a call and now desire a fast closing choice as Olympic qualifiers are going down.
Nevertheless, the IOC has repeated its stance {that a} choice will probably be taken “at the appropriate time”.
Athletes from the 2 nations have confronted sanctions from a mess of sports activities occasions since Russia launched its assault on Ukraine in February 2022.
Nevertheless, a number of Olympic sports activities have eased restrictions over the previous yr, permitting them to return to competitors beneath sure situations.
In March, the IOC lifted an outright ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, permitting them to compete as impartial athletes supplied they did not support the Ukraine conflict and had no ties to the navy.
The IOC has “confirmed that the participation of such AINs [individual neutral athletes] in the Olympic Games could happen only under the existing strict conditions”.
“Neither the qualification system developed by the respective International Federations nor the number of allocated quota places to a sport will be changed for AINs with a Russian or Belarusian passport,” its assertion added.
The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on October 12 for violating the territorial integrity of the membership of Ukraine by recognising illegally annexed territories.
ROC has recognised regional organisations from 4 Ukrainian territories annexed since Russia’s invasion started in 2022.
Russia’s Olympic physique final month launched an attraction in opposition to its suspension by the IOC on the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In September, officers voted to permit Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at subsequent yr’s Paralympics beneath a impartial flag after deciding in opposition to an outright ban.
