Dozens of Russian athletes are likely to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Will Moscow let them go?
DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — With 100 days to go until the Paris Olympics, it’s still not clear whether any athletes from Russia who are expected to qualify will actually go.
The question is whether Moscow will accept the conditions that the International Olympic Committee set for Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. Ultimately, it could be up to individual athletes to decide whether to participate.
The IOC expects that 36 Russian athletes — and possibly as many as 54 — will do well enough at qualifying events to compete in Paris.
The IOC will let them compete as “neutral athletes,” meaning they can’t use their country’s flag or anthem or participate in team sports such as soccer and basketball. Athletes with links to the military or who have expressed support for the war will be banned.
The same restrictions apply to Russian ally Belarus. Athletes from Russia and Belarus also aren’t allowed to take part in the opening ceremony on July 26.