The Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee has outlined new rules governing the participation of neutral athletes at the Paris Games. This information comes from the official IOC website and reflects the organization’s current position on competing under neutral status.
A special anthem without lyrics will be performed for neutral athletes, and medals won by these competitors will not count toward the medal table. The aim is to distinguish neutral participation from other competing groups while maintaining the integrity of the Games. [Source: IOC]
The Paris Olympic Games are scheduled to begin on July 26, 2024. Earlier, IOC discussions focused on restricting the number of Russian athletes allowed to compete under a neutral banner. [Source: IOC]
In February 2022, the IOC urged international sports federations to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from participation. By December of the same year, the IOC decided that Russia and Belarus could participate in Paris 2024 with neutral status, provided they did not support the SVO or have ties to military organizations. Athletes were permitted to compete only in individual events and were barred from team competitions. [Source: IOC]
There were also considerations about sanctions on athletes who would participate in the Friendship Games. The IOC indicated that such actions could trigger disciplinary measures if violations were identified. [Source: IOC]