Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry Responds to IOC Neutral Status Allowance for Russian and Belarusian Athletes
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine issued an official statement addressing the International Olympic Committee’s decision to permit athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in the Games under a neutral flag.
The Ukrainian ministry characterized the IOC Executive Committee’s move as incorrect.
It noted that many Belarusian and especially Russian competitors are connected to sports bodies linked to the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
The statement clarified that Russian athletes who achieve high rankings in their respective disciplines would be allowed to compete, subject to the neutral status policy.
Historically, in the context of the early stages of a military operation in Ukraine, IOC President Thomas Bach had called for federations to exclude Russian athletes from many international events. On January 25, 2023, the IOC signaled it was examining the possibility of letting Russian athletes compete under neutral conditions if they did not publicly support the conflict.
The Paris Olympic Games were held from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
Earlier, the coach of the Russian national gymnastics team opposed the IOC condition framework, citing concerns about fairness and the impact on athlete preparation.
Ukraine remains vocal about maintaining fair competition and ensuring that participation policies reflect the realities on the ground. The discussion continues to influence how international sports bodies balance neutrality with accountability in times of geopolitical tension.