At order to participate as neutral athletes at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, four swimmers from Belarus and Russia have received invitations from the International Olympic Committee. A list of “eligible and invited athletes” with a Russian or Belarusian passport includes swimmer Evgenii Somov from Russia and swimmers Alina Zmushka, Ilya Shymanovich, and Anastiya Shkurdai from Belarus. Following their joint operation on a 2022 invasion of neighboring Ukraine that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, Russia and Belarus have been officially disqualified from competing in the Olympics.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport heard Russia’s appeal of the exile and sustained it, however not because the CAS was endorsing Russia’s position on the war, but rather because Russia had annexed Ukrainian athletic organizations, which it decided violated the Olympic Charter: Only the boundaries of an independent state acknowledged by the international community may be the subject of territorial sovereignty exercised by a NOC.
Therefore, in accordance with [Olympic Charter] Rules 28.5 and 30.1, the ROC’s decision to allow sports organizations from those areas as members undermined the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian NOC, if the world community acknowledges the areas as being a part of Ukraine. The IOC did, however, provide a way for individual athletes—rather than teams—to compete in the Olympic Games. These athletes were known as “Individual Neutral Athletes,” or “AINs” for short—acronym for the same French term.
The sporting federations were mostly in charge of enforcing the neutrality regulations, and some athletes were authorized but eventually did not make the cut for qualifying.
These include Belarusian swimmer Grigori Pekarski, Belaursian swimmer Anastasiya Kuliashova, Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova, who is residing in the US and did not achieve an Olympic qualifying time, and Belarusian swimmer Ruslan Skamaroshka. Additionally, three Belarusian artistic swimmers were granted neutrality, Vasilina Khandoshka among them, for “High-Risk World Aquatics competitions” such as the Olympic Games. She would be qualified for the World Championships, for example, but there are no solo synchronized swimming events in the Olympic Games. It was decided not to accept and invite divers, water polo players, or artistic swimmers.
The IOC stated that the International Federations (IFs)’ particular eligibility rules and the current qualification contests were used to calculate the AIN quotas on the playing field. The same Conditions of Participation that all athletes competing in the Games must sign in order to be eligible to compete as neutrals. This Conditions of Participation includes a pledge to uphold the Olympic charter, which includes the Olympic Movement’s peace goal.
The statement, signed by every athlete competing in the Olympics, has been called a “declaration of neutrality,” but it makes no particular mention of Russia, Belarus, or the conflict in Ukraine. Athletes must also sign the document’s requirements for social media behavior, refraining from manipulating competition, and abiding by anti-doping laws. An extract from the form has been made available by the IOC. Olympic Qualifying Times have been achieved by all four swimmers who the IOC has determined are eligible to compete.
After setting a Russian record with a time of 58.72 at the Atlanta Classic, Evgenii Somov emerged as a surprise contender in the men’s 100 breaststroke in May in Atlanta. It was the first time he had ever broken a minute in that race. In 2024, at the sparsely attended World Championships, Anastasia Shkurdai took home a bronze medal in the 200 back. With a time of 58.29 seconds in the long course, Ilya Shymanovich holds the current World Record in the 100 breaststroke short course meters. Although he completed that swim in 2019, a 58.41 in April 2023 demonstrated that he is still capable of swimming quickly as he gets closer to turning 30.
In 2023, Alina Zmushka set a personal best in the 100-meter breaststroke and went on to swim a 2:24.14 200-meter breaststroke in the semi-finals of this year’s Worlds. After being invited and either accepting or not yet declining a seat in the Games, 43 athletes (27 Russians and 16 Belarusians) are still eligible to compete as of July 3.
RUSSIA BELARUS Road Cycling 3 1 Gymnastics – Trampoline 1 2 Taekwondo 1 0 Weightlifting 0 2 Wrestling 9 1 Rowing 0 2 Shooting 0 2 Tennis 6 1 Canoe 2 2 Judo 4 0 Swimming 1 3 Total 27 16
Six out of the seven Belarusian wrestlers who were invited to compete were among the 14 competitors that declined to compete. It’s unknown if the athletes are getting paid to participate in the Games. Despite publicly criticizing the conflict and Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, a four-time Major Champion and former World #1 player, is one of the well-known athletes who declined a spot. She had caused problems at home earlier in her career by endorsing Lukashenko in political remarks. It’s up to the athletes to choose whether or not they wish to compete in the Games, Russian officials have stated in public on multiple occasions.