Two years remain before the Paris Summer Games tilt the world’s attention toward a city famed for its lights, culture, and sport. In tandem with the International Olympic Committee, Paris 2024 organizers held a press briefing to unveil the event’s guiding phrase for the road ahead.
The theme chosen for the Paris Olympics is “Games Wide Open.”
Renowned Russian handball coach and a champion maker of 2016, Evgeny Trefilov, criticized the new motto with sharp lines. He suggested that discussions had already ruled out Russia’s participation and dismissed the slogan as a mockery, even bordering on folly. He added that if pressure grows, a firm response is needed, as he expressed in an interview with RIA Novosti.
At this juncture, the IOC has not finalized the fate of the Russian team for 2024. Stanislav Pozdnyakov, president of the Russian Olympic Committee, stated that the ROC remains a registered member of the Olympic movement and is actively preparing for a journey to Paris.
Pozdnyakov conveyed via Telegram that the ROC continues to train athletes, maintains readiness for the Games, and seeks to secure equal access to the Olympic Village and its facilities, along with participation in events during the competition.
Not everyone shared the same optimism. USSR figure skating legend Tatiana Tarasova weighed in on the motto news, arguing that the Games would occur without Russian athletes. She called the slogan foolish and dismissed it as something they merely do not accept, speaking to RIA Novosti.
State Duma deputy and 2006 Olympic speed skating champion Svetlana Zhurova spoke to a Socialbites correspondent, describing the slogan as positive and not hostile toward Russia. She reflected on how the phrase would be perceived amid ongoing events, noting that the Games should be accessible to all athletes without political or national barriers.
Zhurova added that the slogan carries a universal, humanistic message tied to sport, and she warned it would feel cynical if Russians were barred from participation. In her view, the Games should be inclusive, even as discussions about Russia’s involvement continue, since openness to all athletes remains a core ideal.
Predicting the two-year horizon remains a hypothetical exercise. The pace of decisions will hinge on evolving circumstances surrounding Ukraine, peace talks, and broader political developments. Officials indicated that no definitive stance would be announced until there is clarity on those factors.
Historically, Russia has faced exclusion from major competitions in recent cycles. The 2018 PyeongChang Games featured Olympic Athletes from Russia, and both Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 were affected by procedural complications tied to earlier doping-related issues. Veteran champion Alexander Tikhonov spoke about the need for Russia to address doping concerns comprehensively to rejoin world sport and to regain standing in international federations. He argued that rebuilding trust would require tangible reforms and demonstrated commitment, noting the challenges faced by Russian sports to reclaim influence and rights on the world stage. He emphasized that Russia should aim for full participation once the proper standards and governance are restored. He also touched on the broader reality that past doping incidents have colored outside perceptions and underscored the importance of visible, sustained improvement across all federations.