Russian gymnasts have lost their last chances to secure Olympic licenses for the 2024 Games in Paris, according to Suspilne Sport.
Athletes from Russia will not be competing in artistic gymnastics at the upcoming Olympics. Earlier, they were given the opportunity to qualify for the 2024 Games in a neutral status.
Last November, the International Gymnastics Federation established criteria for neutrality for Belarusian and Russian athletes. As a result, representatives of the aggressor country and its ally had the opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games in individual competitions. However, this scenario was thwarted by the European Gymnastics Union.
The last chance for Russian gymnasts to earn spots at the Games was through the World Cup stages. The EGU blocked the return of Russian representatives to the competition, causing them to miss three out of four stages and prematurely lose the opportunity to compete for licenses on one of the apparatus. Belarusians Aliona Titavets and Yagor Sharmakov are still in contention.
Russia and the 2024 Olympics
The Olympic Games will take place in July-August 2024. Russia and Belarus will not compete there in team sports. Instead, Belarusian and Russian athletes will participate in individual competitions under the status of "neutral".
Previously, Ukraine boycotted competitions that allowed representatives from Russia and Belarus. However, in the summer, the Ministry of Youth and Sports canceled the order to withdraw athletes from such tournaments. Instead, Ukrainian athletes will compete alongside neutral athletes from there.
The IOC has approved a special emblem for neutral athletes. Sports officials have also banned Russians and Belarusians from using national anthems, flags, and other national symbols at the 2024 Games. Representatives of the Russian and Belarusian governments will not be invited to Paris either.
Meanwhile, the International Tennis Federation allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in the 2024 Games.
