Russians cleared to compete in Paris as neutrals | The Express Tribune
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LAUSANNE: Olympic chiefs on Friday gave the green light to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at next year's Paris Games as neutrals, outside of team events and as long as they did not actively support the war on Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee added that there were currently only eight athletes from Russia and three from Belarus who had qualified as neutral athletes. In comparison, more than 60 Ukrainian athletes have qualified for next year's Paris Olympics . The IOC's executive board "decided that Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) who have qualified through the existing qualification systems of the International Federations (IFs) on the field of play will be declared eligible to compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024". But only, it added, if they meet strict eligibility conditions. That includes the exclusion of "teams of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport". Also missing out will be &