Sunday, October 4, 2026

Countries Torn When It Comes to Allowing Russians in Olympics

  • In 2022, the IOC recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be indefinitely suspended from competing.
  • Last month, the IOC reversed its recommendation.
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Olympic committees throughout Europe are considering whether to allow Russian athletes to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the International Olympic Committee recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be indefinitely suspended from competing in international competitions. 

Last month, the IOC reversed its recommendation after president Thomas Bach and the organization’s executive board voiced their desire to have Russian and Belarusian athletes compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will run from July 24-Aug. 11. 

  • The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee believes Russian and Belarusian athletes should compete in the Games, but not under their nation’s flags or colors. 
  • Other governing bodies like FIFA and UEFA have banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from competing.
  • The NHL and the U.S. Open Tennis Championships have taken a different stance, allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate.

Olympic committees in Europe have been torn on whether to allow the athletes, with groups from Germany, Greece, Italy, and the U.K. not providing a firm position on the issue. 

France has declined to comment on the matter, despite an alleged commitment from president Emmanuel Macron to receive Russian and Belarusian athletes with open arms. 

Invested in Europe 

Future Olympic competitions will have a presence throughout Europe after the IOC signed a joint agreement with the European Broadcasting Union and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Olympics

Olympic Media Rights Awarded to Warner Bros. Discovery, EBU

The Olympics has secured its European broadcasters through 2032.
January 18, 2023

The deal covers all European territories from 2026 to 2032.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Bezos’s Liverpool–Amazon Entanglement Is New for English Soccer

Bezos’s Prime Video has Tuesday night Champions League rights in the UK.
First at FOS

Athlos Will Still Pay $75K for Stadium After Canceling NYC Event

Athlos canceled its third annual New York event, but London’s still on.
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Final - Spain v Argentina - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - July 19, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino inside the stadium before the match IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Mark J Rebilas

FIFA Fires Back at UEFA Legal Attack: ‘Smear Campaign’

UEFA has four legal cases concerning FIFA in three states.

UEFA Takes FIFA, Kushner Company to Court Over World Cup Scheme

The battle between FIFA and UEFA is heading to court.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

A Conversation with Randy Levine on the Yankees’ $2.6B Apollo Deal and the Protect College Sports Act

0:00

Featured Today

Oct 4, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; General action during the first period of the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mullett Arena

How Military-Style Workouts in College Sports Get Dangerous

For elite athletes, high-intensity training can be “very appealing.”
September 6, 2026

Is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett the Future Face of Giants Ownership?

Amid changes at top of Giants ownership, eyes are on Tisch Blodgett.
September 4, 2026

Wild Transfer Window Shows How Premier League Towers Over Soccer

Spending in England vastly outstripped the rest of Europe.
September 3, 2026

Teams Are Spending Millions to Build Luxury Locker Rooms

It’s a recruiting pitch, a retention tool, and a seven-figure line item.
September 1, 2026

High School Football Sidelines Are Clogged With Content Creators

Administrators call these amateur newcomers the “pajama paparazzi.”
Jul 30, 2022; Irvine, CA, USA; A general view of the official NFL balls on the field during Los Angeles Rams training camp at University of California Irvine.

Saudi Arabia Wants to Bring American Football to the Middle East

The Middle Eastern nation wants to host major football events.
Noah Lyles (USA) wins the men’s 100m final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024.
September 22, 2025

Summer Olympics Face a Climate-Induced Heat Check

The World Athletics president says the status quo is not sustainable.
Oct 6, 2024; London, United Kingdom; British and United States flags on the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
September 29, 2025

From Dublin to London: Vikings on NFL’s First Multi-Country Road Trip

The Jaguars have previously played consecutive games in the U.K.
Sponsored

Drew Weatherford’s Bet on the Youth Sports Economy

Drew Weatherford discusses investing across the youth, college and professional levels.
January 13, 2025

Newsom Adamant About L.A. Hosting 2028 Olympics

Gavin Newsom says there’s a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild Los Angeles.
Paralympics Tiktok
August 25, 2024

The Paralympics TikTok Account Isn’t What You Think

A cheeky TikTok account is opening the world of Paralympic sports.
August 11, 2024

Passing of the Torch: Los Angeles Set for Olympic Firsts in 2028

The city last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1984.
August 1, 2024

Saudi Arabia Submits Bold World Cup Bid That Includes a Cliffside Arena

The Saudis are proposing a new stadium in a futuristic city called Neom.