In an announcement made on Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that qualified Russian and Belarusian athletes competing as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) in the upcoming 2024 Olympics in Paris will not participate in the traditional parade of teams during the Opening Ceremony.

The IOC stated that while these athletes will not partake in the usual procession, they will still have the opportunity to "experience the event" in an as-yet-undisclosed manner. Furthermore, the Opening Ceremony will not be held in a stadium, but rather take place on the Seine, as athletes board boats representing their respective delegations and travel along a route spanning a little under four miles (six kilometers) to the iconic Eiffel Tower.

The qualification of AINs from Russia and Belarus was subject to strict eligibility conditions imposed by the IOC. Notably, athletes that actively support Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as support personnel associated with the war and individuals employed by the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies, were excluded from participating. Additionally, only AINs participating in individual events are deemed eligible for the Games.

Due to ongoing sanctions against Russia and Belarus, the Olympics will not display any flags, emblems, anthems, or other identifying symbols of these two countries. As of now, there are 19 AINs qualified for the Paris Games, with 12 possessing a Russian passport and the remaining seven holding a Belarusian passport. However, it is predicted by the IOC that a total of 36 AINs with a Russian passport and 22 AINs with a Belarusian passport will eventually qualify.

The 2024 Olympics are scheduled to commence on July 26 and conclude on August 11 with the Closing Ceremony. The IOC mentioned that a decision about the AINs' participation in the Closing Ceremony will be made at a later stage, taking into consideration that it is not teams but all athletes collectively who take part in this finale.

The exclusion of Russian and Belarusian AINs from the traditional parade of teams reflects the IOC's efforts to ensure the neutrality and fair representation of athletes at the Olympics, amid heightened geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts.