IOC criteria almost fully bar Russian athletes from competing in 2024 Olympics - Russian Olympic Committee head

MOSCOW. July 28 (Interfax) - The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) recommendations and criteria for the admission of Russian athletes to international competitions make only a small number of athletes from Russia eligible for participating in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President Stanislav Pozdnyakov said.

"From the very start, the recommendations and criteria have almost entirely ruled out the possibility for Russian athletes even to compete for qualifying for the Olympics. Just a few of them would ultimately be able to go to Paris at best, and it's still unknown what new terms might be put forward imperatively and at what stage," Pozdnyakov wrote on Telegram.

The IOC has not invited Russia and Belarus to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Only some athletes from Russia and Belarus meeting certain criteria might be able to compete as individual neutral athletes.

The Summer Olympics in Paris are to open on July 26, 2024.