The IOC will consider the issues of the coalition of countries regarding the performance of the Russians and Belarusians at the Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will take into account the concerns expressed by about 30 countries about the possible participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under a neutral flag at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, the organization announced today.

The IOC is in the phase of "detailed consultations" with international federations, national Olympic committees and athletes' representatives, and the questions from the letter sent on Monday will also be taken into consideration, the IOC spokesman said in a statement to Agence France-Presse.

The governments of more than 30 countries called on Monday for the IOC to clarify the definition of "neutrality" in connection with attempts to return Russian and Belarusian athletes to world competitions, and reiterated that they do not support their return until the issue is clarified.

"We are very concerned about the possibility of Russian and Belarusian athletes participating as neutrals in the Olympic Games, while being financed and supported by their countries," said the letter from representatives of France, Great Britain, Sweden, Poland, the United States of America, Canada and others.

In response to the letter, the IOC reminds the principles set by the participants of the Olympic Summit at the beginning of December, who were the first to foresee the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes with a neutral flag, and which include respect for the Olympic Charter (without supporting the war in Ukraine) and the World Anti-Doping Regulations.