as 2024 Olympics Starting in Paris, athletes from the two countries will compete without a national title, flag or anthem – instead, they will be referred to as “AIN”.
Athletes from Russia, this is prohibited Competing in the Olympics for the fourth time in a row as a country since 2017, the Individual Neutral Athletes, or “AIN” from the French translation, are called. They will be joined by athletes from Belarus, banned as a country for the first time. Both countries have been banned for their involvement The ongoing war in Ukraine.
Previously, Russian athletes were allowed to compete under the Russian Olympic Committee, or “ROC,” which last appeared during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. They were allowed to compete under the “ROC” after a series of scandals curtailed their access to the Games, but that changed for the Paris Games.
What does ROC and AIN stand for?
“ROC” stands for “Russian Olympic Committee”. As Russia faced suspension from the Olympics first for doping scandals and then for its aggression against Ukraine, Russian athletes competed under various alternatives to their country’s name.
At the last Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Russian athletes competed under the “ROC” rather than the Russian flag.
At the Paris Olympics, Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete as “individual neutral athletes”, referred to as AIN from the French word Athlètes Individuels Neutres. There will be fewer competitors from both countries than in past Games, and everyone must be invited and follow strict guidelines.
Why was Russia banned from the Olympics?
Olympic athletes from Russia have faced a series of scandals and challenges in recent years. While previous bans and suspensions have been linked to doping scandals, Russia was recently suspended by the International Olympic Committee for its invasion of Ukraine.
The scandal about Russian athletes taking illegal performance-enhancing drugs exploded into the public eye in 2015 after a series of leaks and investigations. In November 2015, the entire Russian track and field team was suspended after being found in an investigation by the World Anti-Doping Agency. That’s what it was called A “cheating culture.”
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A 2016 Report The World Anti-Doping Agency has identified 1,000 people between 2011 and 2014 linked to a Russian state-sponsored doping scheme. Some individual athletes have won medals – including gold medals – at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
The report calls the doping scheme an “organizational conspiracy” involving Russia’s secret service.
The International Olympic Committee banned Russia in 2017 because of this program, but allowed individual athletes to apply to participate in the competition as “Olympic Athletes from Russia”.
168 Russians passed the testing process to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, and many others were barred. Dozens appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and Russia’s desperate bid to bring 45 banned athletes into PyeongChang. It failed just hours before the opening ceremony.
In 2019, the World Doping Agency voted Ban Russia Doping data from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2022 Beijing Winter Games were manipulated. The ban not only excluded Russia from the following Olympic cycle but also barred Russian government officials from attending major events. Russia also lost the right to host or bid for tournaments.
In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, sparking new controversies over the country’s role in peaceful international competition.
The IOC’s executive committee was unequivocal in its condemnation of the invasion, calling it a “flagrant violation” of the Olympic Truce and the Olympic Charter.
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On the one hand, the IOC said safeguards should be taken against inviting athletes from national teams where governments decide who can and cannot participate in competitions, compromising the athletes’ political neutrality. On the other hand, the IOC said it was determined not to discriminate on the basis of athletes’ passports, which would go against the IOC’s “mission to unite the entire world in peaceful competition”.
I.O.C resolved This “severe dilemma” was resolved by determining that athletes from Russia and Belarus could participate as individuals.
It also means that no international sporting events will be organized in Russia or Belarus; Flags, anthems or other national symbols are not displayed at international sporting events; And government or state officials will not be invited to sporting events.
“Olympic Games cannot prevent wars and conflicts” The IOC said In 2023. “They cannot address all the political and social challenges in our world. This is the realm of politics. But the Olympic Games will set a precedent for a world where everyone has the same rules and respects each other.”
In 2023, nearly 20 months into its war with Ukraine, The IOC suspended Russia The merger of sports councils in four regions in eastern Ukraine will take effect with immediate effect for violating the Olympic Charter.
Russia appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, but it lost the case in February this year, the AP reported. The suspension prevents the ROC from receiving funding from the IOC, although it does not affect Russian athletes competing in the Games as neutral athletes.
on it websiteThe IOC says it reserves the right to decide whether athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports can participate.
What is different about competing as AIN athletes?
According to IOC guidelines, “eligible athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports shall be entered and competed as individual neutral athletes.” Teams of athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports will not be allowed to participate in the Paris Olympics, unless they all compete individually.
Also, any individual athletes who actively support war or are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies cannot compete, according to the IOC, and must adhere to doping standards.
According to the suspension rules, no athlete or sports official from either Russia or Belarus will be allowed to participate in the Olympics under the name of Russia or Belarus. Additionally, no national flags, colors, anthems or “other national symbols” may be displayed, and any sporting events may not be endorsed by any government or state authorities. Also, since they are competing as individuals and not as representatives of their nations, they cannot participate Parade of Nations At the opening ceremonies.
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According to the IOC, individual athletes must be invited by the IOC and only a very small number qualify through existing systems.
Until July 20, the IOC said 15 individual athletes from Russia and 18 from Belarus were among the thousands of athletes who qualified from around the world. Only about 60 athletes from both countries have been invited under the new, stricter standards.
“The distinction between states and individuals is crucial,” said Alexandra Chandaki, UN Director of Cultural Rights. Special Rapporteur, said In May 2023. “Human rights were established and adopted by all nations to protect individuals and groups against the abuse of power by states and the tyranny of the majority. Punishing individuals solely on the basis of their nationality for the heinous acts of leaders is no restriction, and this distinction cannot be undermined, but banning states from sporting events may be a legitimate measure.
When will Russia be allowed to participate in the Olympics again?
The IOC said sanctions against Russia would “remain firm” at an Olympic summit in December 2022, giving no indication they would be lifted anytime soon.