Paris Olympics: Neutral Collective Masks Russian and Belarusian Athletes' Identities

Exactly a week after the Paris Olympics' opening ceremony, a gold medal was awarded to a neutral athlete on Friday. Ivan Litvinovich, along with 32 other athletes from Russia and Belarus, faced restrictions due to their countries' military actions in Ukraine. Litvinovich was not allowed to hear the Belarus anthem on the podium; instead, a wordless tune by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) played.

Earlier that day, Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya won silver in women's trampoline. She competed under the French acronym AIN for Individual Neutral Athlete. Her medal, like others from this group, won't be counted in official team standings. Despite these achievements, Russia and Belarus remain largely isolated in global sports due to their actions.

Restrictions on Russian and Belarusian Athletes

The IOC has set strict rules for these athletes: no national flags, anthems, or team uniforms in national colours. The AIN flag is jade or turquoise green with a white circular logo. The anthem created by the IOC is a generic, wordless tune that was first heard publicly on Friday.

Russia and Belarus are not outright banned from the Olympics but cannot participate in team sports at the Paris Games. They were also excluded from having a boat at the opening ceremony. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 24, 2022, led to immediate reactions from European sports teams and event hosts who refused to engage with Russian teams and athletes.

Vetting Process for Participation

The IOC's policy for the Paris Olympics allows selected athletes from Russia and Belarus after thorough vetting. This process ensures they have not supported the war or had ties to military or state security agencies. This approach avoided a blanket ban that could have faced legal challenges and set a difficult precedent for future conflicts.

Despite these measures, some sports still impose total bans on Russian participation internationally, such as FIFA in soccer and World Athletics in track and field events. The vetting process has been criticized by Russian officials as humiliating and politicized.

Participation Numbers

A total of 32 athletes from Russia and Belarus are competing under the AIN designation at the Paris Olympics—15 from Russia and 17 from Belarus. Among them is Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, who did not win any medals in his tennis events.

In comparison, Russia had 436 athletes at the 2012 London Olympics before state doping scandals affected its entries. The current participation is significantly lower due to ongoing restrictions and scrutiny.

The IOC's decision to reintegrate some athletes was made despite Ukrainian pleas against it. This move aimed to balance security concerns with fairness in competition while avoiding broader political implications.

The situation highlights the complex relationship between sports and politics, especially during times of conflict. The measures taken reflect efforts to maintain integrity while navigating international tensions.