Russia and Belarus out of Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that Russia, Belarus, and Guatemala will not receive formal invitations to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The IOC traditionally extends invitations to all national teams worldwide exactly one year before the start of the Summer or Winter Games.

Despite not receiving official invitations, some athletes from Russia and Belarus may still have the opportunity to compete in Paris independently, even amid their countries’ involvement in the conflict with Ukraine.

The IOC clarified that the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from the formal invitations is due to specific reasons. Additionally, the NOC of Guatemala, which is currently under suspension, will also not be invited. Guatemala’s suspension stems from alleged government interference with the autonomy of its NOC.

It is worth noting that the Belarus NOC is led by Viktor Lukashenko, the son of the country’s leader, Alexander Lukashenko. Viktor succeeded his father in the Olympic position.

The IOC’s decision signifies that these three nations will not be part of the formal delegation invited to the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, individual athletes from these countries may still have the opportunity to participate in the Games, albeit without representation from their respective national teams.