The International Olympic Committee (IOC) extended invitations to 22 Russian and 17 Belarusian athletes on Thursday, allowing them to participate in the Paris Olympics as neutral competitors.
This invitation was issued despite some athletes already expressing their intention not to participate.
The second list of authorized athletes, released on Thursday, included participants from various sports such as tennis, shooting, and rowing.
This list followed the initial one published on June 15, which was restricted to four disciplines: wrestling, weightlifting, cycling, and trampoline.
The first list also included refusals from Russian cyclist Aleksandr Vlasov and five Belarusian athletes.
As of now, 18 athletes have confirmed their attendance, including three cyclists, three trampoline specialists, two weightlifters, and 10 wrestlers. The responses of two Belarusian rowers and two Belarusian fencers remain unknown, reported AFP.
Similarly, the reactions of top-ranked tennis players, such as Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, and Belarusian stars Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka, are yet to be officially announced.
However, according to Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpischev, Rublev, 2021 silver medallist Karen Khachanov, and women's 15th-ranked Liudmila Samsonova will not participate in the Olympics. Sabalenka has also stated her decision to prioritize her health and not take part in the Paris Olympics.
To be invited as a /neutral individual athlete, competitors must first meet their individual federation's qualifying criteria and then undergo checks to ensure they have not supported the war in Ukraine or have connections with their country's military.
