LAUSANNE, Switzerland: Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to take part in the traditional parade at the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics, the IOC said Tuesday.
The opening ceremony on July 26 will see thousands of athletes travel on boats down the River Seine for several miles (kilometers) toward the Eiffel Tower, instead of the normal parade of teams inside a stadium.
The International Olympic Committee said athletes from Russia and Belarus who are approved to compete at the Olympics as neutrals will have a chance only “to experience the event” — likely watching from near the river.
The IOC decision follows the International Paralympic Committee which two weeks ago announced a ban for its Paris opening ceremony on Aug. 28.
Russia and Belarus are barred from team sports at the Olympics because of the war in Ukraine and the IOC has laid out a two-step vetting procedure for individual athletes from those countries to be granted neutral status. Those athletes must first be approved by the governing body of their individual sport and then by an IOC-appointed review panel.
Neutral athletes must not have publicly supported the invasion of Ukraine, or be affiliated with military or state security agencies. It is unclear if membership of a Russian military sports club, such as CSKA, will be a reason for denying neutral status.
The IOC said Tuesday it expects about 36 neutral athletes with Russian passports and 22 with Belarusian passports to qualify for the Paris Games.
A decision on whether those athletes will be allowed to take part in the Aug. 11 closing ceremony will be taken “at a later stage,” the IOC said.
Any medals won by neutral athletes will not be counted as a collective group in the overall medals table.
The IOC also revealed details of the replacement flag in jade green that will be used for neutral athletes at medal ceremonies, where a specially written anthem without lyrics will be played.
In another source of tension between Olympic leaders and Russian sport, the IOC decided Tuesday that the International Boxing Association led by Kremlin-backed Umar Kremlev will not be involved in organizing bouts for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The IOC also threatened to remove boxing from the Los Angeles program in what seemed like a challenge to national federations worldwide to distance themselves from the IBA and Kremlev.
The IOC withdrew its recognition of the IBA last year and the body was not allowed to take part in organizing boxing at the previous Tokyo Olympics or in Paris. But Kremlev has further riled the IOC with confrontational comments and support for the rival Friendship Games scheduled in Russia in September.
“If we do not have a new boxing body to work in partnership with the IOC, we will not be in a position to have boxing at the program of (Los Angeles),” the Olympic body said.
IOC excludes Russian and Belarusian athletes from taking part in the Paris Olympics opening ceremony
https://arab.news/p3392
IOC excludes Russian and Belarusian athletes from taking part in the Paris Olympics opening ceremony
- The IOC decision follows the International Paralympic Committee which two weeks ago announced a ban for its Paris opening ceremony on Aug. 28
- IOC has laid out a two-step vetting procedure for individual athletes from those countries to be granted neutral status
Saudis need extra time to end Palestine’s dream Arab Cup run and claim semi-final spot
- The Green Falcons dominated the first half but the breakthrough came early in the second when Salem Al-Dawsari drew a foul in the box and Feras Al-Buraikan converted the penalty
- Palestine responded immediately to level the score, but with just 5 minutes of extra time remaining Mohammed Kanno sealed the victory for Saudi Arabia
DOHA: Saudi Arabia halted Palestine’s impressive Arab Cup run at the quarter-final stage with a hard-fought, 2-1, extra-time victory in a tense match on Thursday.
Herve Renard’s side dominated for long spells during the first half in Al-Rayyan, Qatar, as they probed patiently against a disciplined Palestinian defense that had kept two clean sheets in their three matches during the group stage.
The closest the Green Falcons came before the break was late in the opening period when a deep cross created space for Feras Al-Buraikan, only for Hamed Hamdan to make a crucial, last-ditch clearance.
Saudi Arabia eventually broke through early in the second half through their talisman, Salem Al-Dawsari, whose sharp first touch drew a foul from Mohammed Saleh inside the area. Al-Buraikan converted the resultant penalty with confidence to give the Saudis a deserved lead.
Palestine responded immediately, however; Oday Dabbagh controlled a cross from Hassan Altambakti with a superb first touch before finishing clinically to level the match and reignite hopes of a historic semi-final berth.
Saudi Arabia thought they had a chance to retake the lead late on when they were awarded another penalty, but the video assistant referee overturned the decision. And so, with the teams locked at 1-1, the match moved into extra time.
With five minutes remaining, and a penalty shoot-out looming, Mohammed Kanno delivered the decisive blow as he rose to head home a pinpoint cross from Al-Dawsari, sending the Green Falcons into the last four and bringing an admirable Palestinian campaign to an end.
