15 Russian Olympians Will Compete Neutrally After Country's Invasion Of Ukraine
As the Olympic Games Paris 2024 starts in Paris, the International Olympic Committee faced a challenging political dilemma on how to handle Russian athletes considering the conflct in Ukraine.
For the fourth straight Olympics, Russia is barred from participating under its national name and flag after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
In line with previous bans since 2014, the IOC established a route for athletes from Russia-and Belarus-to compete, albeit without representing their countries' flags or colors. This time, athletes had to apply as Individual Neutral Athletes, demonstrating that they did not endorse the Russian invasion or have ties to the military.
However, the number of athletes who met the criteria were minimal. By the Opening Ceremony on Friday, only 15 Russian athletes were officially listed as neutral competitors.
Numerous other Russian-born athletes will still be present in Paris as they will compete under other nations' flags, having recently acquired new nationalities to circumvent the sanctions imposed on Russian sports. Many made these significant changes well before the IOC officially established the status of independent athletes last December.
Russian commentators have labeled these athletes as "The Lost Generation."
While some Russian supporters back them, others view them as betrayers. The neutral athletes also face criticism from high-ranking Russian officials.
Stanislav Pozdnyakov, head of Russia's Olympic Committee, recently condemned prominent Russian tennis players. His social media rant referenced world No. 5 Daniil Medvedev, who is competing as neutral in Paris, branding the group as "a team of foreign agents."
Among the Russian athletes who have changed nationalities is wrestler Georgii Okorokov. He will compete for Australia while his hometown of Yakutia in Russia cheers him on from over 6,000 miles away in Sydney.
Local Yakutia news celebrated Okorokov's qualification, calling it a "sensation in the history of Yakutia sports." Okorokov, 27, switched his allegiance after the February 2022 invasion. Russia's sports ministry reported last August that 67 athletes had changed nationality since early 2022, though some estimate the actual number may be as high as 200, including those in non-Olympic disciplines like chess.
'The Wall Street Journal' has confirmed at least 18 Russian athletes who switched nationality after the invasion and will compete in Paris.
Nearly 60 athletes with Russian roots have qualified for the Games, some of whom changed citizenship years ago, per Russia's 'Sport-Express,' forming what the website described as "a fully-fledged big team."
