The president of the St. Petersburg Biathlon Federation, a two-time Olympic champion from 1984 and 1988, expressed support for Irina Viner, head of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics. Viner stated that Russian gymnasts would not compete without a flag and anthem, calling it a disgrace. This stance is presented as a guiding position by Sports24.
Vasiliev urged athletes and officials to stand firm in the face of what he called lawlessness. He criticized the IOC with strong words and suggested that the situation could push athletes to consider drastic steps. He noted that an athlete who chooses to compete in Paris might not be looked upon with respect at home, even in the event of a gold medal win.
In 2022, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, IOC President Thomas Bach urged international federations to exclude Russian competitors from major events. On January 25, 2023, the IOC announced it would study allowing Russian participants who do not oppose the SBO to compete in neutral status at international events.
On December 8, the IOC granted Russian athletes the possibility to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games under neutral status.
Initial reports indicated eight Russians and three Belarusians had earned spots for the Games. A subsequent IOC update revised those numbers. The organization’s current site lists six Russian and five Belarusian athletes who earned Olympic quotas. The same message reiterates that no flags, national anthems, or symbols of Russia or Belarus will be displayed at the Games and that no government officials from those countries will be invited to participate.
Earlier, Dmitry Guberniev reacted to Wiener’s remarks about the decision to attend the Games without a flag and anthem, offering his perspective on the matter.