Russian and Belarusian athletes is not going to participate within the opening ceremony on the 2024 Olympics in Paris, says the Worldwide Olympic Committee.
Athletes from each international locations have been banned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Nevertheless, athletes from Russia and Belarus who qualify for the Video games can compete as neutrals.
A choice on them being a part of the closing ceremony shall be taken at a later date.
The IOC mentioned they’d not be a part of the opening ceremony “since they’re particular person athletes, however a chance shall be supplied to them to expertise the occasion”.
Thus far, there are 12 particular person impartial athletes with a Russian passport and 7 particular person impartial athletes with a Belarusian passport who’ve certified for Paris 2024, of the 6,000 quota locations already awarded.
For this summer time’s Video games in Paris, the situations of their inclusion embrace competing with out flags, emblems or anthems of their nation.
In the meantime, the IOC mentioned Russia’s plan to host a ‘Friendship Video games’ is “a cynical try” by the nation “to politicise sport”.
Russia needs to maintain the occasion in September this yr, with a winter Video games deliberate for 2026.
The IOC mentioned the plan is a “blatant violation of the Olympic Constitution”.
The primary Friendship Video games have been organised by the Soviet Union and eight different international locations after they boycotted the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The IOC added: “The Russian authorities has launched a really intensive diplomatic offensive by having authorities delegations and ambassadors, in addition to ministerial and different governmental authorities, approaching governments around the globe.
“To make their purely political motivation much more apparent, they’re intentionally circumventing the sports activities organisations of their goal international locations.
“This can be a blatant violation of the Olympic Constitution and an infringement of the assorted UN resolutions on the similar time.
“It’s a cynical try by the Russian Federation to politicise sport.”
It added the Russian authorities is displaying “complete disrespect for the worldwide anti-doping requirements and the integrity of competitions”.
The IOC additionally highlighted pointless pressures athletes might face if they’re compelled to take part within the Friendship Video games, stating they may very well be vulnerable to being “exploited as a part of a political propaganda marketing campaign”.
Final week, the World Anti-Doping Company, exterior (Wada) raised considerations about unsanctioned multi-sports occasions at its assembly in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Wada mentioned the Friendship Video games is not going to happen beneath the safety of the World Anti-Doping Code, so might compromise the “well being and equity” of athletes.