The leadership of the Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation has publicly stated that Russian athletes will not pursue neutral status to take part in the Paris Olympic qualifiers or the Games themselves. The announcement was reported by RIA News and cited by federation president Vasily Titov.
In Titov’s account, the decision was a clear one by the gymnasts and their coaches. No Russian gymnast applied to compete in Baku under a neutral flag, and none entered the Olympic qualifying events with that designation. This stance, he notes, effectively removes Russia from this segment of the qualification process.
The current absence stretches back to a broader trend of nonparticipation at major events. Russian gymnasts did not compete at the World Cup stages in Cairo and Cottbus, and no performances were planned for the Baku event in Azerbaijan. As a result, their chances to secure a spot in Paris diminished significantly, if not completely, within the current qualifying structure.
By March 4, 2022, the international gymnastics governing body, the International Gymnastics Federation FIG, imposed a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under its umbrella due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Those restrictions remained in effect for some time, with the ban set to expire at the start of 2024.
Following that period, the International Olympic Committee issued a decision on December 8, 2023 allowing athletes from Russia to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games under neutral status. This approval opened a doorway for Russian competitors to return to the Olympic stage, but only under the neutral designation rather than representing Russia in a traditional sense.
In recent remarks, the Russian side has suggested that the Olympic movement feels diminished without the presence of their athletes, noting the impact on competition and public interest. The evolving policy landscape continues to shape how athletes travel to international events, how teams are framed in competition, and how the Olympic ethos is experienced across different nations. Attribution is given to federation leadership, sport governing bodies, and official Olympic and international federation communications that address the changing eligibility rules and the status of Russian competitors. The ongoing dialogue reflects a tension between geopolitical developments and the sport’s pursuit of open participation on the world stage.