Paris Olympics 2024: America supports neutral Russian participation in the Olympics

The White House said on Thursday that the US supports a move to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in the Paris Olympics 2024 as neutral athletes provided they are prevented from displaying their national flags or emblems.

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According to AFP, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, "The United States has supported suspending Russia and Belarus' sport national governing bodies from international sports federations. It should be absolutely clear that they are not representing the Russian or Belarusian states."

The US stand, which has been tough against Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, comes as a surprise. And this is also a blow to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He is against the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes. However, Jean-Pierre further added, "The use of official state Russian, Belarusian flags, emblems, and anthems should be prohibited as well."

The US stand adds to the ongoing debate over the presence of athletes from Russia and Belarus at the Paris Olympics 2024. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly opposed any involvement of Russian and Belarusian athletes and called for sanctions against Russia. Russia, on the other hand, is pushing for all sanctions to be lifted. They argue that the Olympics should not be politicized.

The IOC has said it is investigating the participation of Russians as neutral athletes in the Summer Games. The IOC's willingness to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes into Paris has divided the sporting and diplomatic worlds. Earlier, on Wednesday, two UN rights experts praised the IOC's move to allow athletes from both countries to compete. They argue that no athlete should be "discriminated against on the basis of their nationality".

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The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has also supported the IOC's move to make way for Russian and Belarusian athletes. In a conference call in December, USOPC president Susanne Lyons warned that the Olympic movement would be at risk if athletes were not given the chance to compete as neutrals.

Moreover, similar words of support came from the Olympic Council of Asia and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. But Britain, Poland, and the Baltic countries have condemned the IOC's stand. US Olympic officials, however, are adamant that athletes will only be able to compete in 'strictly neutral' uniforms.