IOC excludes Russian and Belarusian athletes from taking part in the Paris Olympics opening ceremony
The Peninsula
Lausanne, Switzerland: Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to take part in the traditional parade at the opening ceremony at the Paris...
Lausanne, Switzerland: Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to take part in the traditional parade at the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics, the IOC said Tuesday.
The opening ceremony on July 26 will see thousands of athletes travel on boats down the River Seine for several miles (kilometers) toward the Eiffel Tower, instead of the normal parade of teams inside a stadium.
The IOC said athletes from Russia and Belarus who are approved to compete at the Olympics as neutrals will have a chance only "to experience the event” - likely watching from near the river.
The IOC has laid out a vetting procedure for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be granted neutral status, with requirements including that they must not have publicly supported the invasion of Ukraine, or be affiliated with military or state security agencies.