Lausanne: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has delivered positive news for athletes from Russia and Belarus. The IOC has granted ‘neutral status’ to several athletes from these two countries, allowing them to participate in the upcoming Paris Olympics, set to begin next month.
This decision enables 14 athletes from Russia and 11 athletes from Belarus to compete without representing their national flags, anthems, or colors.
The list of athletes includes participants in cycling, gymnastics, taekwondo, weightlifting, and wrestling.
However, the ban on athletes from Russia and Belarus continues for team events.
This comes in light of the ongoing IOC sanctions against these countries due to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine over the past two years.