The British government is set to drop its opposition to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. This comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (ICC) recently tighten the rules of neutrality. The British government has reaffirmed its position in letters to the IOC and the ICC, in which it expresses its commitment to the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus, as long as they comply with the neutrality rules.

This decision marks a significant change in the British government’s stance, having previously strongly opposed the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. The government’s new stance comes after the IOC and ICC recently announced that athletes from Russia and Belarus could compete as neutral athletes, as long as they do not represent their respective countries and do not display national or political symbols.

The participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games has been a controversial issue since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Many countries and international sports bodies have expressed their opposition to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the games, arguing that their participation would be an affront to Ukraine’s sovereignty and a violation of sanctions imposed on Russia. However, the IOC and ICC have argued that the participation of neutral athletes would promote unity and peace in sport.