The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has allowed Belarusian and Russian athletes in neutral status for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, the organization announced.
“The International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee will allow qualified and eligible athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as Individual Neutral Athletes (“AIN”) and Paralympic Games as Neutral Paralympic Athletes (“NPA”). Neutral athletes will need to meet the selection and eligibility requirements as set out in the applicable ITF Regulations,” the statement reads.
Russians and Belarusians will be able to participate in the competitions if they meet the requirements outlined in the respective regulations, emphasized in the announcement. The decision has been agreed upon with most international federations concerning individual competitions and athletes participating in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, according to the ITF.
“The ITF’s position is also in accordance with tennis’ existing international policy which was adopted in March 2022,” the statement reads.
The Summer Olympic Games will take place in Paris from July 26 to August 11, and the Paralympic Games will be held from August 28 to September 8.
In October, the International Olympic Committee suspended the activities of the Russian Olympic Committee. This happened after the Russian Olympic Committee included committees from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine under its membership on October 5.
The Ukrainian World Congress is also conducting an international advocacy campaign to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, even under a neutral flag.
“We are confident that the Olympic Games should not be used for whitewashing Russia’s genocidal war in Ukraine, for concealing its crimes against humanity, or for promoting the tolerance of war and destruction,” reads a letter signed by UWC First Vice President Stefan Romaniw and Chair of the UWC World Sport Committee Renata Roman to the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach.
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