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
Israeli occupation forces issue a new bombing threat against civilian buildings in the Southern Lebanese towns of Borj Qalaouiye and Chehabiyeh.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Extending the snapback mechanism deadline will test how independent Europeans truly are from the US.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Activating the snapback mechanism will nullify the Cairo Agreement, shut the door on cooperation between the IAEA and Tehran, and bar inspections.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The diplomatic window remains open, but signs of activating the snapback sanctions mechanism on Iran are increasing.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Although the Cairo Agreement meets an important part of European demands, they have begun speaking of new conditions in recent communications.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: European countries show no independence in their stance toward Iran during the talks.
Israeli occupation forces issued bombing threats to bomb civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.
Israeli media: One soldier wounded at Allenby crossing now confirmed killed.

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

Russia Deputy FM meets Lebanese ex PM, discuss regional developments

Al Mayadeen obtains draft barring attacks on IAEA-monitored facilities

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

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 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
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

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