Setting aside casualties to play games

A notable feature of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the Olympic Truce which begins seven days before the start of the Olympic Games, and ends seven days after the closing of the Paralympic Games. During this time, nations of the world are to pause conflict to allow safe travel for athletes and spectators.

This tradition was established in Ancient Greece, but when Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine during the Olympic Truce of the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the action initiated participation bans for Russia and ally Belarus in sport. The impact of those bans is now heating up with the Paris 2024 Games less than a year away.

Russian President Vladimir Putin now claims the Olympic Movement is “degrading” with their participation at Paris 2024 in doubt. But Vlad, what about when you broke the Truce? Did you not think there would be repercussions?

Putin said the Olympics “is not only about setting records, but about uniting people,” expecting the casualties of war, with Ukrainian deaths estimated to be 70,000 killed with 100,000 to 120,000 wounded, to be set aside to play games. Hmm…

The IOC has promoted the idea for Russian and Belarus athletes to compete at Paris 2024 but under a neutral flag, with their national flags, anthems, and symbols to be banned.

Officials in Ukraine, meanwhile, have slammed the IOC for allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international sport as neutrals and threatened a boycott if they are present at Paris 2024, arguing there should be no place for either country under any banner while the war remains ongoing.

Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Program*:
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 (41)
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6 (41)
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470 (19)
Men’s Skiff – 49er (20)
Women’s Skiff – 49erFX (20)
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class (20)
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class (20)
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFoil (24)
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFoil (24)
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17 (19)
* Quota per event in parenthesis but does not include Universality Places (2 men, 2 women)

Venue: Marseille, France
Dates: July 26-August 11

Details: https://www.paris2024.org/en/the-olympic-games-paris-2024/