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IOC Olympic Games executive director Christophe
Dubi said that the matter would be discussed at the "next
session", which is scheduled for March 19 in Lausanne,
Switzerland.
"As of today, it is not the case; athletes with a Russian or
Belarusian passport and taking part in the Games have not been
banned (from participation in the ceremony)," IOC Coordination
Commission chairman Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant told a press
conference.
The IOC told Reuters that Russia is on the agenda of every
Executive Board meeting and that a decision would not be made on
March 19.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said on Wednesday
that Russian and Belarusian athletes joining the Paralympics
would not be part of their opening ceremony.
Russian and Belarusian athletes cannot take part in team
competitions at the July 26-Aug. 11 Olympics, but are allowed to
participate as neutrals - without flags or anthems being played.
The IOC had sanctioned Russia and Belarus after the February
2022 invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a 'special military
operation', but has since paved the way for their return to
international competitions.
"From the outset, the IOC wanted to express its support for the
athletes and ensure that there would be no discrimination on the
basis of the passports they hold," Beckers-Vieujant told
reporters.
"We say that we are ready to welcome them, of course on the
basis of the decisions taken by the international federations. A
certain number will pass the qualifying criteria, and we will
carry out all the eligibility checks. If they don't come, it
will be in their hands, and I hope that it will be more in their
hands than in those of the Russian State," he added when asked
about a potential Russian boycott of the Games.
"Our desire is that a qualified athlete who does not support the
conflict started by Russia should be able to take part in the
Olympics."
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Christian
Radnedge and Toby Davis)
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