The United States supported the participation of Russian athletes in the 2024 Olympics without a flag

The United States Olympic Committee (USOPC) believes that Russian athletes should be allowed to participate in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, provided that they compete without a national flag. Such a statement did USOPC CEO Suzanne Lyons in a conversation with The Wall Street Journal.

“It may be unpleasant to realize, but the exclusion of the Russians throws us back, their return is really important for [олимпийского] movement. <...> But we are categorically opposed to them returning under the national flag, while their country is under sanctions,” she said.

In February 2022, against the backdrop of a special operation in Ukraine, the IOC recommended that international federations remove Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions. Most federations supported the initiative. The United States also advocated the removal of Russia and Belarus. According to Lyons, this was a necessary measure, but now “the issue of the safety of athletes is no longer so acute,” despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

She added that there is now a risk that the governments of certain countries may refuse visas to Russian athletes to participate in the games or put pressure on their athletes not to compete with representatives of certain countries. Lyons pointed out that such actions are contrary to the Olympic Charter. She noted that the US opposes politicized decisions regarding athletes participating in the games.

In early December, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke for the admission of Russian athletes to the Olympic Games in 2024. According to the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach, the French leader insists on the participation of all countries in the competition.

However, on December 9, the IOC summit extended sanctions against athletes from Russia and Belarus. The committee clarified that we are talking about a ban on international sporting events in Russia and Belarus, as well as the rejection of flags, anthems and other state symbols of the two countries at competitions.

The 2024 Summer Olympics will take place in Paris from July 26 to August 11. At the previous 2020 Tokyo Games, the Russians competed under a neutral flag due to WADA sanctions against the Russian Federation. Under the flag of the Russian Olympic Committee, athletes also participated in the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.