Russian and Belarusian athletes barred from participating in opening ceremonies of Paris Olympics

Entrants can compete as "Individual Neutral Athletes," but the Russian and Belarusian flags and national anthems will not be seen or heard.

An illustration of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony that will take part on the River Seine, breaking the long-held Summer Games tradition of a stadium procession of athletes and officials. Florian Hulleu / Paris 2024 Olympic Committee / via AFP - Getty Images

March 20, 2024, 2:23 AM +07 / Updated March 20, 2024, 4:10 AM +07 / Source: nbcnews.com/

By David K. Li, NBC News

The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday barred athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in opening ceremonies in Paris as organizers target countries that are "responsible for the war" in Ukraine.

Athletes from those nations, though no teams, would be allowed to compete in individual events as “Individual Neutral Athletes,” or "AINs."

“AINs will not participate in the parade of delegations (teams) during the Opening Ceremony, since they are individual athletes,” according to an IOC statement.

But any Russian or Belarusian athletes associated with "military and national security agencies will not be eligible to be entered or to compete," the IOC said.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb 24, 2022, and Moscow's ally and Ukrainian neighbor, Belarus, has played a key support role in the aggression.

These athletes still might march in the closing ceremonies.

"The decision regarding the participation of AINs in the Closing Ceremony will be taken at a later stage, taking into consideration that it is not teams that enter the Closing Ceremony, but all athletes jointly together," the IOC said.

The Paris 2024 opening ceremony is set for Friday, July 26.

"The sanctions against those responsible for the war, the Russian and Belarusian states and governments, remain in place for the Olympic Games Paris 2024," the IOC said.

So far, 12 AINs with a Russian passport and seven rooted in Belarus have qualified for the games.

It's expected that 36 Russians and 22 Belarusians will eventually qualify in their various sports, the IOC said.

There will be limited celebrations if those athletes win gold.

The AIN flag would be hoisted and its anthem played should a Russian or Belarusian athlete end up on the top podium spot.

Russian aggression in Ukraine has also had an impact on the Special Olympics, which holds quadrennial summer and winter games.

The most recent winter games had been set for Kazan, Russia, but were canceled over safety concerns.Their absence was a choice of the local organizing committee, a Special Olympics spokesperson said Tuesday.

Their absence was a choice of the local organizing committee, a Special Olympics spokesperson said Tuesday.