Why will Medvedev compete at Paris 2024 and not dozens of Russian athletes? GETTY IMAGES

The decision on the participation of Russian athletes who have been granted neutral status in the Closing Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be made later, the press service of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) told RIA Novosti.

Earlier, the IOC Executive Board did not allow Russian athletes to take part in the opening ceremony of the Games, which will be held on 26 July. The closing ceremony of the Olympics in the French capital will be held on 11 August. 

"The decision on the participation of neutral athletes in the closing ceremony will be made later, because the closing ceremony is not for the teams, but for all the athletes. During the award ceremony, the flag will be raised and the anthem of the Authorised Neutral Athletes (AIN) will be played," the IOC said in the statement. 

Thomas Bach is the president of the International Olympic Committee. GETTY IMAGES
Thomas Bach is the president of the International Olympic Committee. GETTY IMAGES

The IOC allowed the Russians to take part in the Games, but subject to a number of strong criteria. 15 athletes from Russia will take part in the Olympic competitions in five sports - seven tennis players, three representatives of kayaking and canoeing, three cyclists, one representative of trampoline jumping and one swimmer. Why 15? Why not all or none? The CIO has infuriated all sides of the conflict with its most political decision. 

The admission of only 15 Russian athletes as neutrals to the Olympic Games in Paris is a complete failure of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), senior coach of the Russian artistic gymnastics team Valentina Rodionenko told RIA Novosti. 

Valentina Rodionenko blamed the International Olympic Committee. GYMNOVOSTI
Valentina Rodionenko blamed the International Olympic Committee. GYMNOVOSTI

"The fact that the IOC has created such a disgrace is not only a shame. It's even difficult to find a word. This is a complete failure. Now we have to wait and see what will happen to these 15 athletes. Nobody guarantees their safety, it's difficult to imagine how everything will turn out in the end," Rodionenko said. 

Ukraine and its National Olympic Committee are also angry at the CIO's recent decisions, and have announced that Ukrainian athletes will not greet the Russians at Paris 2023, following an agreement with international sports federations. 

Vadim Gutzeit is the president of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine. GETTY IMAGES
Vadim Gutzeit is the president of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine. GETTY IMAGES

"We agreed with the international federations where it is necessary to greet [the athletes] during the meeting, as well as after the match. We agreed that we will not greet each other, we will not shake hands," Ukrainian NOC president Vadim Gutzeit said on television.