Since February 2022, Ukraine has lost 489 athletes to Russia’s full-scale war, with many more maimed. Yet in Seoul, IPC delegates voted to restore Russia’s and Belarus’s status, granting the Kremlin a propaganda stage.
The Paris Olympics' message of peace and unity rang hollow as evidence mounted of the IOC's failure to prevent Russian war supporters from competing under the guise of political neutrality.
Olympic ideals face a stern test as "neutral athletes" with histories of vocal support for Putin and Lukashenka regimes secure spots in the 2024 Games.
Parisian Mayor Anne Hidalgo has spoken out against the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Olympic Games. She added, "Paris will support Ukrainian athletes as heroes; you will feel at home in Paris."