The International Olympic Committee (IOC), due to the sanctions introduced due to the war in Ukraine, will allow only a few athletes from Russia and Belarus (with strict restrictions) to compete in the Paris Olympics, as the vice-president of the forum told about how many would agree to compete as “neutrals”, writes Reuters.

“Only 40” athletes from Russia will participate in the Olympics in Paris

IOC Vice President John Coates says he is not sure how many Russian athletes will compete as neutral athletes at the 2024 Olympics, but he believes reports of “only 40” may be close to the truth.

The inclusion of neutral athletes remains a contentious issue, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba calling the December decision to allow them to participate “disgraceful” and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo last week expressing hope they would not come.

“The problem is how many will be there because they won’t be participating in any team sports because they can’t compete like Russia. And then, whoever is trained by the Russian military clubs, he does not go. I don’t know, but obviously some athletes may decide not to go if they are not competing for Russia. I could be wrong, but I think I read something that it might only be 40″ – John Coatesin the Sunday edition of the Daily Telegraph in Sydney.

Neutral athletes will only compete in individual sports without national flags, emblems or anthems, and athletes who actively support the war in Ukraine or are under contract to the Russian or Belarusian military are not eligible.

Moscow, which describes the invasion as a “special military operation”, called the restrictions “illegitimate, unjust and unacceptable”, but the head of the Russian Olympians, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, confirmed that his athletes would not boycott the Games.

Due to doping sanctions that prevented them from competing under the Russian flag, 335 athletes participated in the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games as part of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) team, winning 71 medals. Belarus sent 101 athletes who won seven medals.

Since then, the IOC has suspended the OCR for recognizing regional Olympic councils from the annexed territories of Ukraine, a decision upheld last month by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Of the 4,600 athletes who qualified for the 2024 Olympics at the time of the December decision on neutral athletes, 8 were Russian and 3 Belarusian. More than 60 Ukrainians qualified.

Athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be able to participate in equestrian competitions at the 2024 Olympics, even as neutrals, and the World Athletics Association has banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from the beginning of 2022.

Other federations, such as swimming and tennis, will allow Russians and Belarusians to compete under IOC restrictions.

World No. 4 Daniil Medvedev of Russia said earlier this month that he was looking forward to the competition and that he would play by the rules.

The Olympics in Paris will last from July 26 to August 11.