The International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday it would recommend that Russian and Belarusian athletes be reinstated in international competition under a neutral flag and as individuals, unless they supported the war in Ukraine and were not closely linked to the Russian military or services.

The IOC leaves everything to the international federations and competition organizers

The IOC supports and recommends the reintegration of Russian and Belarusian athletes into competition, provided that they did not support the war in Ukraine. Also, athletes must not be under contract with the Russian military or special services.

The International Olympic Committee held several rounds of consultations with the entire Olympic movement over a period of 4 months and concluded that international federations and competition organizers should decide whether or not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate.

The organization’s executive committee will soon make a decision on their possible participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, which Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic states have threatened to boycott if Russia is present. – said Thomas Bach, president of the IOC.