The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday recommended banning Russians and Belarusians from sports competitions, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A group of Ukrainian athletes had sent an open letter to the IOC to this effect.
A symbolic but strong measure, the executive committee also withdrew the "Olympic order" from all senior Russian officials, starting with President Vladimir Putin.
The IOC Executive Board "recommends to International Sports Federations and organizers of sports events not to invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and official representatives in international competitions", according to a press release on this decision of the executive committee of the sports body.
If “for organizational or legal reasons”, it is not possible to prevent the arrival of Russian athletes, the IOC asks that they cannot be “authorized to participate under the name of Russia or Belarus” .
What about the Paralympics?
The question is particularly pressing for the Paralympic Games, which begin Friday in Beijing.
"Where, in very extreme circumstances", putting in place these measures "is not possible in the short term for organizational or legal reasons, the IOC EB leaves it to the organization concerned to find its own way", according to the organization which "has particularly focused on the next Paralympic Winter Games" and "reiterated its full support for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Games".
Another hot topic, the World Cup play-offs: Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, potential opponents of the Russians, have all said they intend not to face them, even if their opponents line up under a name other than that of their country. , as proposed by Fifa.
The IOC maintains its recommendation not to organize a competition on Russian soil.
Breaking with its tradition of demanding the neutrality of athletes, the IOC hailed “the many calls for peace made by athletes, sports officials and members of the world Olympic community.
The IOC particularly admires and supports the calls for peace made by Russian athletes”.
On the French side, as of Friday, the Ministry of Sports, during a meeting organized with the main players in sport, had encouraged federations and professional leagues to no longer send delegations and tricolor athletes to Russia and Belarus.
Officially, no instructions have been given concerning the arrival of Russian delegations to participate in competitions organized on French soil.
The closure of European airspace to Russian planes and now the IOC's position seem to settle the issue.