The International Olympic Committee has released a public roster listing the 15 Russian athletes competing under neutral status at the 2024 Paris Games. The lineup includes participants from several sports who will represent Russia without national symbols.
Tennis: Daniil Medvedev, Mirra Andreeva, Roman Safiullin, Pavel Kotov, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Diana Schneider, Elena Vesnina.
Cycling: Alexey Ivanchenko, Gleb Syritsa, Tamara Dronova;
Kayaking and canoeing: Alexey Korovashkov, Zakhar Petrov, Olesya Romasenko.
Swimming: Evgeny Somov.
Jumping on a trampoline: Angela Bladtseva.
The smallest delegation in history
Experts note that Russia could have expected broader representation at the Games, considering there were about 50 spots available. Yet the IOC restricted entry, and some athletes could not participate due to injuries, while others chose not to participate. Several federations opted not to apply to compete, amid significant boycotts, particularly in wrestling and judo. Still, wrestler Shamil Mammadov indicated he would attend Paris, though an injury prevented him from competing.
Cyclist Alexander Vlasov and tennis players Andrei Rublev and Karen Khachanov also declined to travel to the Games. Elena Vesnina stands out as a veteran who was included in the application submitted by the International Tennis Federation and later added to the Russian contingent in Paris. In Tokyo, the previous Games, Vesnina, Medvedev, Alexandrova, Dronova, and Romasenko had all taken part, underscoring a fluctuating pattern in delegation composition.
Romasenko prepared for a Paris appearance but initially found his name missing from the participant list. He reached out directly to the IOC and ultimately received an invitation.
Thus, the Paris delegation would mark the smallest ever for Russia, and indeed for the entire USSR era when considering modern Olympic history, totaling just 15 athletes. For context, a note excludes the London 1908 Games when athletes from the Russian Empire participated in a much smaller assembly, numbering six.
Broadcasts of Games? Wrong case, wrong time
Russian fans face limited access to live competition. Domestic television networks chose not to purchase broadcast rights for the Games. A senior figure, Svetlana Zhurova, a former Olympic speed skater and member of the Duma, explained to socialbites.ca that maintaining costly broadcasts would be ill-timed given the country’s current circumstances.
Zhurova added that viewers may prefer to see athletes identified as Russians, which complicates broadcast decisions. She suggested that central channels may not cover IOC events extensively, but online platforms will provide access for those who seek it. That sentiment reflects a broader trend toward alternate viewing options during this period.
“Russia Will Not Be Represented at the Olympic Games”
The parliamentarian emphasized that Russia will not have a national representation at the Games, noting that fans will follow athletes who are loosely associated with Russia. She argued that individual neutral competitors will participate, but any visible national symbols would lead to disqualification and homeward travel.
The speaker recalled how national identity has heavily influenced audience engagement in past Games. She expressed a preference for supporting a Russian team with the flag and anthem, while acknowledging that fans often rally around performances where national color is not a factor. Her reflections highlighted a classic tension in Olympic sport: personal achievement independent of political context versus national pride.
In late February 2022, the International Olympic Committee urged international federations to discourage Russian and Belarusian participation. By 2023, the IOC opted to classify Russians and Belarusians as neutral athletes for the 2024 Games, with qualification conditioned upon meeting a set of requirements.