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
Rubio: 'Very short window', maybe days, for Hamas to accept deal
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City

Macron says there can be no Russian flag at Paris Olympics

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 7 Sep 2023 23:47
4 Min Read

French President Emmanuel Macron says there is a unanimous agreement that there should not be any Russian flags at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

  • x
  • The mascots of the Paris 2024 Olympic, left, and Paralympic Games pose next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, August 28, 2023 (AP)
    The mascots of the Paris 2024 Olympic, left, and Paralympic Games pose next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, August 28, 2023 (AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that the Russian national flag should not be displayed at the upcoming Paris Olympics in 2024. This decision, he alleged, is due to Russia's involvement in war crimes and the deportation of children, actions that have drawn international condemnation.

In an interview with the French sports daily L'Equipe, President Macron firmly expressed his position, saying, "Of course, there can be no Russian flag during the Paris Games. I think there is a consensus on that matter because Russia, as a country, is not welcome at a time when it has committed war crimes and deported children."

Macron also emphasized that the responsibility for determining the participation of Russian athletes should lie with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

He urged that the issue should not be politicized, highlighting the importance of maintaining the Olympic spirit of fair competition and unity among nations.

The French President's comments come as Ukraine has voiced its concerns about the presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Paris Olympics.

Ukraine has even threatened to boycott the Games unless these athletes compete under a neutral flag rather than displaying their national colors.

President Macron acknowledged the complexities of the situation and stated, "The real question, that the Olympic organization should decide upon, is what place can be given to the Russian athletes."

He went on to stress the importance of including Ukrainian representation in IOC meetings to ensure their perspective is considered in the decision-making process.

Related News

Belarus hosts US officials at joint Zapad drills with Russia

Russian drones in airspace were 'duds': Polish FM

Ukrainian athletes have been grappling with their nation's blanket ban on competing against Russian and Belarusian counterparts, regardless of the flag under which these athletes compete.

Some within Ukraine's sports community perceive this ban as detrimental to the careers of Ukrainian athletes and have called for a more nuanced approach.

Director of Olympic Solidarity and National Olympic Committees Relations at International Olympic Committee (IOC) James Macleod described Ukraine's decision forcing their national athletes to boycott competitions with Russian and Belarusian athletes as having "gone too far," stressing that governments should not prevent their national athletes from competing in international tournaments.  

"They [Ukraine] have gone so far as to prohibit their own athletes from competing in events in which there could be neutral athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport," he said.

"That obviously for us is a step too far because athletes must be at the center of all of our deliberations and we don’t believe that Government decisions whether it is the Ukrainian Government or the Russian Government or any Government should have an impact on the athletes ability to access international competitions or funding," Macleod told the Inside the Games portal. 

Back in early April, the Head of the Ukrainian President’s office Andrie Yermak urged the President of the International Gymnastics Federation President Morinari Watanabe to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated on 28 March, recommending that international sports federations allow Russian athletes to compete as neutrals provided they denounce the Russian "War" on Ukraine.   

In a statement, Yermak said that he, "held a meeting with International Gymnastics Federation President Morinari Watanabe… Called on Morinari Watanabe to support the initiative to ban the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Olympics."

Read more: China supports participation of Russian athletes in sporting events

  • Russia
  • Paris 2024
  • Olympics
  • IOC
  • Olympic Games
  • France
  • Ukraine

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700 mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

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