The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has found itself at the center of controversy following its decision to limit the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, amid Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The opening ceremony, slated for July 26, will feature a unique spectacle with athletes traveling on boats down the River Seine, culminating near the Eiffel Tower. The IOC’s ruling stipulates that Russian and Belarusian athletes can still compete but must do so as neutrals, without their national symbols, and are barred from the traditional parade during the ceremony. These athletes, approximately 36 from Russia and 22 from Belarus, are required to undergo a vetting process, abstain from publicly supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and have no ties to military or state security agencies.

This decision has incited a vehement response from Russia, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemning the move as antithetical to the Olympic spirit. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova escalated the rhetoric by accusing the IOC of descending into racism and neo-Nazism, a claim that the IOC, and its president Thomas Bach, found especially objectionable, leading to the condemnation of Russia’s “extremely aggressive” reactions and personal attacks on Bach.

In defense of the decision, the IOC maintains that it aims to uphold the integrity of the Olympic movement while navigating the complex terrain of international politics and conflict. Despite the heated dispute, the IOC underscored its openness to all athletes who comply with its stipulations, emphasizing the overarching principle of unity and peace that the Olympics seeks to foster.