Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to participate in the Paris Olympic Games under a neutral flag, as announced by the International Olympic Committee.
National Teams Not Welcome
The IOC’s decision means that Russian and Belarusian national teams are still not welcome at the Olympic competitions. Government officials from Russia and Belarus will also not receive accreditations or invitations to the Olympic Games, and national anthems and symbols will not be allowed.
Additionally, there are some other prerequisites for the qualified athletes. Athletes who actively support the war, serve as soldiers, or work in national security services will not be admitted.
Decision to Repeat Tokyo 2020
In the Tokyo Olympics, Russian and Belarusian athletes were also only allowed to compete under a neutral flag due to the Russian doping scandal. Neutral athletes from both countries started with the emblem of Neutral Athlete Individual (NAI).