Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: The office of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo stated on Tuesday that she opposes the participation of Russian competitors at the 2024 Olympics if the Ukraine war continues. The French capital will host next year’s games.
This is a stark change in Hidalgo’s position as last month she had said that under a neutral flag, the Russians could participate. Thus Hidalgo had believed that the athletes should not be deprived of competition.
Russian athletes at 2024 Olympics a bone of contention
In January the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had said that it was looking into an avenue to allow competitors from Belarus and Russia to take part in the Paris Olympics.
Following IOC’s statement, Ukraine had strongly Ukraine responded that it would consider boycotting the Olympic Games.
Last week the sports minister of Poland claimed that around 40 countries could stay away from the event if both Belarus and Russia were allowed to take part.
However, it is the IOC that will decide on who can or cannot compete. Neither the organizers nor the French authorities can take such a decision.
