French President Emmanuel Macron has declared that the Russian flag should not be present at the upcoming Paris Olympics in 2024. He emphasized that the issue of Russian athletes’ participation should be determined by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
In response to Ukraine’s threat of a Games boycott, Macron suggested that the situation could change if athletes from Russia and Belarus were to compete under a neutral flag rather than their national colors. He stated, “Of course, there can be no Russian flag during the Paris Games, I think there is a consensus on that matter. Because Russia, as a country, is not welcome at a time where it has committed war crimes and deported children,” in an interview with French sports daily L’Equipe.
Macron also stressed that the decision regarding the participation of Russian athletes should be made by the Olympic organization and should not be politicized. He further advocated for the inclusion of Ukrainians in IOC meetings to address this matter.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has caused extensive casualties, widespread destruction, and economic turmoil, has prompted this discussion. Russian forces used Belarus as a staging area for their failed attack on Kyiv during the initial stages of the invasion.
For some Ukrainian athletes, the current blanket ban on competing against Russians and Belarusians, regardless of the flag under which those athletes compete, is seen as detrimental to their sports careers and self-inflicted.
