The assignment of broadcast rights for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris within Russia is not managed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) alone; it is handled through the vendor arrangement with the media rights agency Telesport Group. This is the position conveyed by DEA News through the organization’s press service, which clarifies the actual distribution of broadcasting responsibilities for the event inside the Russian market.
The press service elaborated that the IOC aims to ensure the Games reach the broadest possible audience across the globe. Since the Tokyo Games, the IOC has operated under a formal agreement with the sports rights agency Telesport Group, which holds the media rights in Russia. This includes the rights necessary for the live and delayed broadcasting of the Paris Games, covering television and digital platforms as part of the broader international licensing framework.
Within Russia, several major channels and platforms—Channel One, Russia-1, Match TV, and the Okko online cinema service—declined to bid for or carry the 2024 Olympic broadcasts. Earlier communications from the IOC’s official site had indicated that the committee would host coverage on its own platform as a supplementary option, but that notice was subsequently removed, leaving the exact distribution plan less visible to the public. This shift has prompted interest in how Russian audiences will access Olympic content and which channels or streaming services will ultimately carry events and ceremonies.
The Paris Games are scheduled to run from July 26 to August 11. Russia will see a number of its athletes compete under neutral status, and this designation will be confirmed based on decisions made close to the start of competition, with a final determination anticipated around July 20. The neutral status concept means that athletes must meet stringent criteria and comply with a defined set of conditions in order to participate under the Olympic banner without national affiliation.
Looking back to the lead-up to the Games, the IOC issued a broad appeal to international sports federations in February 2022. The message urged federations to restrict participation by Russian and Belarusian athletes in individual events and team competitions. By late 2023, the IOC signaled that Russians and Belarusians would be eligible to compete as neutral athletes at the Paris Games, subject to agreed-upon criteria, including testing, eligibility proofs, and adherence to the Olympic Charter. This approach was designed to balance international competition with political sensitivities and ongoing geopolitical considerations, while preserving the integrity of athletic competition and the benefits of Olympic participation for the athletes involved.
Opinions on the decision have varied among observers and participants. Notably, former athletes and coaches have offered contrasting viewpoints about the implications of competing as neutrals, the impact on national sports programs, and the messaging sent to young aspiring athletes. In this context, discussions around broadcasting access, neutrality rules, and the compliance framework for participants have remained central to how the Paris Games will be perceived and experienced by Russian audiences, coaches, and fans alike.
In this evolving landscape, questions persist about the role of media rights in shaping audience access, the reliability of streaming options, and the synchronization of live events with local schedules. While some platforms have opted out of carrying the Games, the IOC’s broader strategy is aimed at maximizing visibility and ensuring that Olympic content remains accessible through legitimate channels under the licensing agreements that govern each market. The ultimate arrangement will reflect a combination of rights holders, platform choices, and regulatory considerations, all working together to deliver a coherent, lawful, and engaging Olympic experience.
As the Paris Games draw closer, athletes, fans, and broadcasters alike will be watching closely to see how neutral participation is implemented in practice, how broadcasting rights are allocated, and which online and traditional outlets will offer comprehensive coverage. The evolving plan underscores the IOC’s ongoing effort to balance accessibility with governance and the enduring appeal of the Olympic movement across diverse audiences and regions.