The 33rd edition of the Summer Olympics will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11, 2024. This grand sporting event will be attended by 10,714 athletes from 206 countries. This is slightly less than the previous Games in Tokyo, where 11,092 athletes participated. These Olympics will be distinguished not only by the number of participants, but also by strict security measures, as well as no athletes from Russia and Belarus participating in team sports and under national flags.
Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris only in individual disciplines and under a neutral flag. This decision was made in order to exclude athletes who support Russia’s aggression against Ukraine or are associated with the Russian armed forces. In total, only 15 Russian and 16 Belarusian athletes will take part in the Games. They will compete under a neutral flag, without national symbols, and will only be able to participate in individual competitions, but not in team sports.
However, the Russian Federation is certainly not happy with this situation. In response, before the Olympic Games in Paris, Moscow announced its intent to organize “alternative” international competitions — “Games of the Future”, “BRICS Games”. It was also expected to be held the “World Friendship Games”, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has rejected this proposition. Thus, these competitions were postponed at least for a year or even more.
In addition, on the eve of the Olympics, the French authorities refused accreditation to a number of journalists, physiotherapists, and technical personnel from Russia and Belarus in order to prevent cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns that could undermine the security and stability of the Olympic Games. The Kremlin is trying to use its malicious agents all over the world. Even the Olympic Games, which have long been apolitical and during which even wars stopped, are no exception. The National Cybersecurity Agency of France (ANSSI) has warned of possible cyberattacks related to the Paris Olympics, saying that major international events attract the attention of cybercriminals. They can use such events to carry out phishing attacks, create fake apps or fraudulent websites to undermine the image of the host country and destabilize the situation.
Russian aggression has a devastating impact on the sports infrastructure and community of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian sports community has lost more than 479 athletes and coaches, 20 of whom were Olympic champions. Some of them died from Russian shelling of peaceful Ukrainian cities, and some — at the front, defending their country, independence and sovereignty.
Modern sports arenas, youth centers and other physical education and sports facilities in Ukraine are constantly being shelled. In total, about 520 sports infrastructure facilities have been destroyed or damaged, including 15 Olympic, Paralympic and Deaflympic sports facilities. All this complicates the preparation of Ukrainian athletes for competitions. However, despite such obstacles, Ukraine — a country that has been fighting a full-scale Russian invasion for almost two and a half years now. With the help of international partners, it was able to prepare a team of about 150 athletes to participate in the Olympics. The allies provided an opportunity for Ukrainian athletes to continue the training process on their territories, stadiums, sports facilities, which made it possible to obtain licenses, prepare for competitions and get to the Olympic Games in Paris. This situation emphasizes the importance of international support and solidarity in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Ukrainian athletes, despite large-scale destruction and constant threats, continue to fight and prepare for the largest sporting event thanks to the help of their foreign colleagues.
The tradition of the “Olympic Truce” was established in Ancient Greece. In 1992, the International Olympic Committee renewed the idea of the “Olympic Truce”, which was supported by the UN General Assembly. Ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in France, President Emmanuel Macron proposed introducing a “silence regime” during the Games, citing the need to end global conflicts. This proposal, in particular, was addressed to Russia, which continues its aggression in Ukraine. Macron’s initiative was supported by Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the idea, saying that since Russia was banned from the Paris Olympics, it was not obliged to follow the IOC principles.
Being at war with Russia, Ukraine needs the international community’s support to defend its independence and protect its citizens. Thanks to international partners, Ukrainian athletes can continue training and prepare for competitions. However, Ukraine needs support not only in sports, but arms supplies, financial aid and humanitarian resources. The EU and NATO countries should increase its support to help Ukraine overcome current challenges and restore peace and stability in the region.