Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to march at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics

On March 19, International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials said that Russian and Belarusian athletes competing at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics under neutral flags will not be able to attend the opening ceremony.

Speaking to reporters after the IOC Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, James Macleod, the IOC’s Director of External Affairs and Relations with National Olympic Committees, said that individual neutral athletes (AINs) from either country will not participate in the parade of delegations and groups of athletes at the opening ceremony on July 26 this year because they are individual athletes. However, they will still have the opportunity to be present to watch the event in person.

Mr Macleod also said a decision on AIN's participation in the closing ceremony would be made at a later stage and the IOC was considering all athletes participating together rather than in separate parades.

According to the official, there are currently 12 AINs with Russian passports and 7 AINs with Belarusian passports who have qualified to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

It is likely that between now and the start of the Olympics, 36 AINs with Russian passports and 22 AINs with Belarusian passports will be eligible to participate in the world's biggest sporting event.

Medals won by AIN will not be shown on the medal table. Additionally, no Russian or Belarusian government officials will be invited to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In December last year, the IOC suspended Russia from the 2024 Paris Olympics, but gave the green light for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals.