Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Political aide to the governor of Gilan Province in northern Iran: Air defenses in Rasht shot down a small hostile drone flying over the city
Israeli media: The presence of General Qaani at the “victory celebrations” in Tehran puts an end to the rumors and earlier reports claiming he had been assassinated
Israeli media: There is division within the US administration itself over the extent of what the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities actually achieved
Israeli media: US intelligence also says Iran’s centrifuges remained largely intact
Israeli media: Netanyahu and Trump celebrated too soon, as US intelligence says Iran’s uranium stockpile was not damaged
Israeli Channel 13: The objectives set by Netanyahu for the operation against Iran have not been achieved
Early US intel assessment suggests strikes on Iran did not destroy nuclear sites, CNN reports, citing sources
Israeli media platform: An additional soldier has been confirmed killed in the serious incident in Gaza, who had previously been considered "missing" for some time
Pezeshkian: History will not forget how Iran’s enemies broke their pledges and agreements, resorting to aggression and invasion even during negotiations
Israeli media: Between 14 and 16 soldiers were injured in the incident, which reportedly involved two separate units at the brigade and division level

ANOCA supports return of Russians to Olympics in 2024

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Mar 2023 20:19
3 Min Read

Russians and Belarusians are given a green light to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games under a neutral flag.  

  • x
  • ANOCA approves return of Russians to Olympics in 2024
    Yulia Stupak, left, and Natalia Nepryaeva of the Russian Olympic Committee receive their medals for the women's team sprint classic cross-country skiing competition during the medal ceremony at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) has decided to support the participation of Russians and Belarusians in the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games under a neutral flag.  

"Members unanimously decided to support the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in all international competitions," ANOCA said in a statement after a meeting on Friday for its executive committee in the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott.

Ukraine and its Western donors called for the exclusion of Russians and Belarusians from the games over the conflict in Ukraine, but the International Olympic Committee said in January that no athlete should be prevented from playing just because of their passport. The Olympic Council of Asia supported that decision.

The IOC said that a pathway for the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics should be "further explored", ignoring calls from Ukraine to ban them.

The African organization aligned with the position of the IOC and its president Thomas Bach, ANOCA chief Mustapha Berraf added in his statement.

"ANOCA reaffirms its stance that politics cannot bring pressure to bear on sport and strip it of all its core values, which are rooted in peace, unity, and solidarity," the statement said, adding athletes should not "be made to pay the heavy price of any conflict whatsoever and wherever it may be."  

Related News

2024 records highest number of global conflicts since WWII: The Times

Rutte warns to raise NATO military spending to 5% or 'learn Russian'

The African sports governing body said that this decision would go down in history as an effort to tear down the barriers existing between politics and sport.

In February, the IOC urged sports federations and organizers to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from international events in response to Russia's special military operation in Ukraine.

The IOC also withdrew the Olympic Order, its highest award, from all high-ranking Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, and Kremlin Deputy Head Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak.

It is noteworthy that Russia has also been stripped of hosting the UEFA Champions League final in St. Petersberg.

In January, the British government strongly criticized the moves to reintegrate Russian athletes for next year's Paris Olympics.  

UK's Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan described the International Olympic Committee's plans to provide a pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes to play under a neutral flag as "a world away from the reality of war being felt by the Ukrainian people."  

In the same month, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said during a call he had stressed to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that Russian athletes "should have no place" at the Paris Games.

  • Ukraine crisis
  • neutral flag
  • Russia
  • Olympic Games
  • Sanctions on Russia
  • France
  • Ukraine
  • ANOCA
  • Belarus

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
'Israel's' medical supply ban to Gaza threatens newborns' lives
Health

Gaza's newborns at risk as 'Israel' blocks baby formula, supplies

Tehran
MENA

Thousands rally in Tehran in support of Iranian Armed Forces

FT
Palestine

UK’s Co-op halts sales of Israeli carrots over rights violations

Israeli security forces inspect the site struck by an Iranian missile strike that killed several people, in Beer al-Sabe', Occupied Palestine, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

In numbers: Iran's True Promise 3 devastates 'Israel' in 12 days

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS