The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that Russian athletes can be directly invited to the 2024 Paris Olympics despite the suspension of their country’s Olympic committee. The decision has sparked controversy and criticism from some quarters, especially from the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, who wants Russia banned from the Games while the war in Ukraine continues.
IOC’s Rationale for Allowing Russian Athletes
The IOC said that the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) for violating the territorial integrity of its Ukrainian counterpart by unilaterally adding sports councils in four occupied regions as members, will not affect the process of evaluating individual Russian athletes for neutral status to help them qualify for and compete at the Paris Olympics. The IOC president Thomas Bach commented on the issue a day after the ROC was suspended and said that “we do not punish or sanction athletes for the acts of their officials or government.” He also said that the ROC did nothing else but to follow a law passed by the Russian parliament annexing the Ukrainian regions.
The IOC has maintained that it never accepted the annexation of Crimea and that it did not have issues with the nationality of athletes participating in the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Russia was also under scrutiny for state-sponsored doping. The IOC said that Russian athletes can be directly invited to the Paris Games by the IOC in coordination with international federations and, if needed, with the respective national federations. The IOC also said that Russian athletes who are in the military or who have publicly supported the war will not be eligible for invitations.
Hidalgo’s Opposition to Russian Participation
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has expressed her strong opposition to the IOC’s decision and has called for a complete ban on Russia from the 2024 Olympics. She said that she does not want Russia to compete at the Games while the war in Ukraine continues and that she is concerned about the human rights situation in Russia. She said that she changed her stance from last month, when she was in favor of Russia competing under a neutral banner, after seeing the escalation of violence and repression in Ukraine and Russia.
Hidalgo said that she respects the autonomy of the IOC but that she has a moral duty to speak out against injustice and aggression. She said that she hopes that the IOC will reconsider its decision and that she will continue to advocate for peace and democracy in Europe. She also said that she will welcome all athletes who come to Paris with respect and solidarity, regardless of their nationality.
Reactions from Other Stakeholders
The IOC’s decision has also drawn mixed reactions from other stakeholders, such as athletes, sports officials, politicians, and human rights activists. Some have supported the IOC’s stance of not punishing innocent athletes for their government’s actions, while others have criticized it for being lenient and inconsistent with its own principles and values.
Some Ukrainian athletes have expressed their disappointment and anger at the IOC’s decision and have said that they will boycott or protest against the participation of Russian athletes in Paris. They have accused the IOC of being hypocritical and complicit in Russia’s aggression and occupation of their territory. They have also said that they will not recognize or respect any medals won by Russian athletes at the Games.
Some international sports federations have welcomed the IOC’s decision and have said that they will cooperate with it to ensure a fair and transparent process of inviting and selecting Russian athletes for the Paris Olympics. They have also said that they will uphold their own anti-doping rules and regulations and that they will monitor and test all athletes rigorously before and during the Games.
Some political leaders and human rights activists have also voiced their concerns and objections to the IOC’s decision and have urged it to reconsider its position. They have said that allowing Russian athletes to compete in Paris will send a wrong message to the world and will undermine the credibility and integrity of the Olympic movement. They have also said that it will embolden Russia to continue its aggression and repression in Ukraine and elsewhere.
