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Neutral Athletes Compete Without Flags at Paris 2024
7 Feb
Summary
- Athletes competed without national flags due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
- AIN represents Individual Neutral Athletes, a code for those with Russian or Belarusian passports.
- Strict eligibility criteria exclude athletes who actively support the war.
Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics participated without their national flags due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This neutrality requirement will extend to the Milan 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
The designation for these competitors is AIN, which stands for Individual Neutral Athletes. This code is used by the International Olympic Committee for athletes holding Russian or Belarusian passports who are barred from competing for their respective nations.
Previously, Russian athletes competed under the "ROC" country code. The current prohibition for both Russia and Belarus is a direct consequence of Russia's war in Ukraine. Strict eligibility criteria, set by the IOC, ensure that athletes actively supporting the war are not permitted to compete.
