Paris mayor vows to keep Russian, Belarusian athletes out of Olympics

PARIS (Reuters) – The Mayor of Paris said it was unthinkable that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to take part in the 2024 Summer Olympics under their national flags, adding she would do everything she could to prevent it.

After the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in January, stated that it was open to including them among neutrals, Ukraine led the call for athletes from Russia and Belarus to be banned from the Paris Games.

“I cannot imagine that they (IOC) will make that decision (to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes at Paris 2024),” On Tuesday, 500 Days before the Games began, Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Toronto, spoke to French sports magazine L’Equipe.

“I can’t imagine for a second that the IOC would want to leave such a legacy. So I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Russia’s neighbour Belarus and Russia’s athletes were involved in the invasion of Ukraine one year ago. They have been barred from participating in many international competitions.

Hidalgo suggested that Russian athletes could be allowed into the July 26-Aug11 Games as part IOC’s refugee team. He opposed the participation of Russian competitors as neutrals.

“We must act now. The fact that the IOC has chosen Paris for the celebration of this Olympics is a very strong sign because it is the capital of human rights,” She continued Tuesday’s remarks, but did not mention the refugee team idea.

“It is the capital where all the great universal declarations of human rights have been sealed since the French Revolution. It is a country and a city that cannot look away when it comes to human rights.”

Organisers of the Games have stated repeatedly that they will abide by any IOC decision regarding the participation of Russian or Belarusian athletes.

(Reporting and Editing by Julien Pretot; Editing By Nick Macfie