The International Olympic Committee has upheld sanctions against Russia and Belarus. They will miss the 2024 Olympics

The majority of participants at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) summit spoke in favor of keeping in place the sanctions imposed on athletes from Russia and Belarus following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The restrictions stipulate that:

• International competitions cannot be held in Russia and Belarus;
• Flags, anthems, colours or any other symbols of these countries may not be displayed at any sporting events or meetings.

The IOC decision means that the Russian and Belarusian teams will not be able to take part in the 2024 Summer Olympics in France, Deutsche Welle notes . At the same time, Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete under a neutral flag or for teams from other countries.

The IOC said in a statement that the Olympic movement was forced to “take protective measures” and refused to invite athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions, including because it could not guarantee their safety in some countries.

The organization noted that all athletes should be protected from political interference, but the organization was forced to ban the participation of Russians and Belarusians "solely because of their passports."

• Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the IOC called on sports organizations around the world to refrain from holding events in Russia and Belarus, not to fly their flags, and to ban athletes from these countries from competing in international competitions. Most sports federations and associations supported these recommendations.