Today’s Olympic chiefs provided a clearer path for Russians to be allowed to compete in Paris 2024.

Instead, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), issued guidelines to sports that allow Russians to participate as neutrals in their events if they are not active supporters of the war on Ukraine.

The IOC envisions Russian athletes – as war ally Belarus – being known by the acronym “AIN,” based upon the French for “Individual Neutral Athlete.”

These are not the conditions to entry into the Olympics. The IOC President Thomas Bach stated that the IOC was only implementing a “monitoring process” before deciding on Paris at “appropriate times.”

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Bach stated: “We’re not going to kick it down the road, and we’re not waiting [for] the war to end.

“We all want the war to stop now, and this is what are calling for.”

While Mr Bach directly condemned Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in a direct condemnation, he believes that governments asking for a ban on Russians participating in sport is political interference.

Over fears that Moscow might use sport to propagandize, the British government has asked the IOC not to allow Russians at the Olympics.

Ukraine also pointed out how Russia’s war against their country has resulted in the death of its athletes and destruction of its sports infrastructure.

IOC doesn’t want Russians to compete in national colors

The IOC was previously criticized for allowing Russians to attend recent Games, despite the state-sponsored anti-doping program that corrupted sport.

Russian athletes were prohibited from competing in the 2018-2022 winter and summer Olympics with the national flag and anthem.

However, their uniforms featured the red, blue and white of Russia.

Although the IOC now says it doesn’t want Russians to compete in sport under their national colors, they say that athletes shouldn’t be discriminated against because of their nationality.

Ukraine threatens to boycott Olympics

Ukraine and other Russian neighbors have threatened to boycott the Olympics, if they are forced to compete with Russians.

For each sport that allows Russians to be neutrals, the focus is on deciding the eligibility and entry conditions for them to attempt to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

However, World Athletics imposed a total ban on athletes from Russia or Belarus last week.