Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made a bold statement declaring that athletes from Russia and Belarus are unwelcome at the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics scheduled to be held in the French capital.

During a visit to a training center for athletes in Kiev, Ukraine, Hidalgo conveyed her firm stance, emphasizing support for Ukrainian athletes and citizens amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. The remarks, shared by the Ukrainian YouTube channel United News, underscored Hidalgo's solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

"I want to tell the Russian and Belarusian athletes that they are not invited to Paris," stated Hidalgo, expressing unequivocal support for Ukrainian athletes and the nation as a whole.

The decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Paris Olympics comes in the wake of Russia's military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022, with Belarus siding with Moscow in the conflict. The European-controlled Olympic Committee has become embroiled in the controversy surrounding the participation of athletes from these nations.

While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed Russian athletes to compete in the Paris Olympics under a neutral status, they are prohibited from representing their country. Furthermore, both Russia and Belarus have been barred from participating in the Olympics' opening ceremony.

James McLeod, Director of the IOC, clarified the stance on Russian athletes, emphasizing their individual status rather than representing their country. As a result, they are not permitted to join the parade during the opening ceremony alongside other nations. However, efforts are underway to provide alternative arrangements for these athletes.

In response to the restrictions imposed by the IOC, Moscow has denounced them as a manifestation of "neo-Nazism." The contentious issue highlights the complexities surrounding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international sporting events amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions and diplomatic disputes.