As the Paris Olympics draw near, the participation of Russian athletes remains uncertain due to the conditions set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The IOC expects 36-54 Russian athletes to qualify for the games, but they will have to compete as neutral athletes without using national symbols or participating in team sports. Athletes with military ties or who express support for the war will be banned, and they won’t be allowed to participate in the opening ceremony.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has questioned these rules and asked the Russian Olympic Committee and Sports Ministry for recommendations on whether Russian athletes should compete in Paris. The ROC President criticized the IOC for imposing illegitimate criteria and acting on external political orders. On the other hand, the Sports Minister believes Russia should not boycott the Olympics and should engage in dialogue and competition.
Despite the controversy, Russia sent 335 athletes to Tokyo in 2021 and won 20 gold medals. Ukraine opposes Russian participation in the Paris Olympics but has eased its policy on boycotting events where neutral Russian athletes compete. The IOC President stated that threats of boycotts from Russia and Ukraine were no longer a concern. A neutral Russian delegation is expected to consist mainly of combat sports athletes and top tennis players like Daniil Medvedev, who have expressed their intention to compete in Paris.
Ukrainian activists are monitoring Russian athletes’ social media activity for any breaches of IOC neutrality rules. One athlete, wrestler Abdulrashid Sadulaev, was initially approved to participate in Olympic qualifiers but was later stripped of that status due to his support for the Ukraine-Russia war. Despite some Russian athletes qualifying for the games, influential coaches and officials have boycotted qualifying events in protest against the IOC’s conditions.
In contrast to other sports, Russia will not compete in Olympic track and field as World Athletics has maintained its ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes at competitions it runs. The decisions made in Moscow will ultimately determine whether Russian athletes will participate in the Paris Olympics, with the country facing challenges due to the ongoing situation in Ukraine. The controversy surrounding the Russian athletes and their potential participation in the games highlights the complex geopolitics that continue to influence international sporting events.
