After the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia, supported by Belarus, questions were raised about whether athletes from those countries should be eligible to compete in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) initially considered a ban on participants from the aggressor countries, but a feeling prevailed that it is unfair to punish athletes for their nationality. As a result, the IOC shifted its position, to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under a “neutral” banner. But as the Paris Olympics and Paralympics fast approach, what does this mean in practice?
Neutral flag, neutral anthem
Neutrality means that Russian and Belarusian athletes are be permitted to compete, as long as their nationalities remain unmentioned. The idea has a precedent in other sports, such as ATP, WTA and Grand Slam tennis, where Russian and Belarusian competitors have taken part with no reference to their country of origin.
The strict terms of the athletes’ Olympic participation were set out in an IOC statement as follows: “No flag, anthem, colours or any other identifications whatsoever of Russia or Belarus will be displayed at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in any official venue or any official function.”
Instead of their national identity, the athletes will be referred to as Individual Neutral Athletes (or AIN from the French Athlètes Individuels Neutres). A bespoke AIN anthem has been composed for them, with no lyrics, and they will compete under the AIN turquoise flag. If they win any medals, they will not be counted in the international country by country ranking.
No reference to nationality
With no reference to nationality allowed, national team games are out of bounds, so the AINs are only allowed to take part as individuals in individual events. The normal anti-doping rules also apply to them. They are not allowed to join the parade of nations, though they have been promised a way to take part. What that will be, has not yet been made clear.
Nor has it yet been confirmed what the neutral athletes’ competition sportswear will look like, but more important perhaps than their dress code, is their moral code: they are required to sign up and commit fully to the Olympic Charter and its “peace mission”. No athlete or member of support staff who has actively supported the war in Ukraine or who is contracted to the military or armed forces can become an AIN.
Overall the numbers of competing athletes who meet or are prepared to meet these criteria is small. “The maximum number, which is unlikely to be reached, would be 55 and 28 respectively,” the IOC told CNN. That’s 275 fewer than Russia sent to Tokyo in 2021 and a drop of 76 for Belarus.
