“With neutral status and without symbolism”
The International Paralympic Committee IPC has published the participation rules for Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Paralympic Games, scheduled in Paris from 28 August to 8 September. The guidelines specifically address athletes competing in neutral status and were released on the organization’s official platform.
During the Paris Games, these competitors will be listed as Neutral Paralympic Athletes NPA. The design of game uniforms and all equipment must receive IPC approval. Crucially, items must not display national flag colors, the country name, emblems, or symbols that indicate nationality.
Neutral Paralympic athletes will compete under a white flag bearing black NPA lettering, and any medals won by NPAs will not contribute to the official medal tally. If a neutral athlete wins, the Paralympic anthem will be played at the medal ceremony.
National flags of Russia and Belarus and related symbols are banned from Paris 2024. This prohibition extends to all venues connected to the Paralympic Games.
Additionally, symbols of military forces from states fielding neutral status athletes are prohibited.
The IPC states that the Russian and Belarusian delegations will not attend the opening ceremony, and neutral athletes will not have banners at the close of the Games.
An independent IPC body will assess the suitability of athletes and support staff for participation. Consequently, individuals who actively support the conflict in Ukraine or who are employees of the Russian or Belarusian armed forces or national security agencies will not receive accreditation.
“Discriminatory decision”
Following the IPC publication, the Russian Paralympic Committee RPC issued a statement labeling the decision discriminatory and a breach of human rights.
The RPC argued that the ruling targets Russian athletes based on nationality, denying them the chance to represent their country or celebrate victories with their anthem. Such a policy is portrayed as denying athletes their national identity and disadvantages Russian competitors relative to athletes from other nations.
Paralympic athletes are continuing preparations to achieve top results and to honor Russian sport on the world stage, according to RPC statements.
RPC also noted that restricting travel for RPC staff to Paris could complicate the daily operations of athletes. The delegation for the neutral Russian team is cited as potentially up to 225 people, including 125 athletes, though this figure could fluctuate.
As of the latest update, the IPC Swimming Committee has confirmed 42 slots for Russian Paralympic swimmers, with athletes set to compete at European Championships in Madeira from 21 to 27 April. Six of the 22 sports still hold or may gain quotas through qualifying events: athletics, shooting, taekwondo, triathlon, wheelchair tennis, and table tennis. RPC stressed that three additional sports may join the Games only by invitation from the IPC and international federations: powerlifting, judo, and archery.
“They want us to surrender ourselves”
State Duma deputy and Turin 2006 speed skating Olympic champion Svetlana Zhurova criticized the IPC requirements in an interview with socialbites.ca. She suggested that the policy seems designed to minimize the visibility of Russian and Belarusian athletes on the global stage and to influence outcomes at ceremonies. Zhurova expressed concern that this approach could escalate into broader exclusion and even affect future Olympic participation. She argued that the policy might provoke reactions that could jeopardize participation in Paris and beyond, and she questioned the long term fairness of the process.
The deputy also mentioned the possibility of appealing to the European Court of Human Rights ECHR to challenge what she called a discriminatory decision. She cautioned that the court process can be lengthy and may not yield timely results, noting perceived bias in international adjudication. Zhurova warned that outcomes could delay or limit athlete participation and suggested that the strategic moves could be perceived as pressing Russian and Belarusian teams toward nonparticipation.
Her remarks reflected a broader debate about rights, national representation, and the role of international bodies in sanctioning athletes based on nationality. The discussion highlighted the tension between political dynamics and the pursuit of athletic excellence on the world stage. Marked citations: IPC policy and RPC response are described in official statements and press materials .