Paris 2024: “We don’t care what Vladimir Putin thinks”, reacts the Minister of Sports to criticism of the participation of Russians under a neutral banner

While the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris next summer are already shaping up to be one of the major events of 2024, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra was the guest of “4 Vérités” on France 2, Wednesday January 3. The Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games reacted to the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to authorize Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the Games under neutral banner. Recalling that the IOC made the participation of these athletes subject to the fact that‘‘they did not support the war” in Ukraine and‘‘they have no connection with government agencies”Amelie Oudéa-Castéra assured that“we will be very vigilant” regarding compliance with these criteria.

“Neither anthem, nor flag, nor colors of these countries”

For Vladimir Putin, involving these athletes under neutral banner would be “bury the spirit of Olympism”. “We don’t care what he thinks. There are rules which are set by the IOC, it is the IOC which has the authority to decide who participates or who does not participate.replied the minister. Amelie Oudéa-Castéra added that it is necessary “manage“that the framework set by the IOC “be respected to the end”but also “do everything so that Russian power does not exploit sport for its own glory”. For Russian and Belarusian athletes, there will be during the Games “no anthem, no flag, no colors of these countries in the stands”she insisted.