Paris Olympics 2024: No Anthem, No Flag For These Individual Neutral Athletes Despite Winning Medals-Here’s Why

Ivan Litvinovich and Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya have secured their Olympic medals—gold and silver respectively—but their achievements will not be reflected in the official medal tally.

These trampoline gymnasts are among the 17 athletes from Belarus competing in Paris under the designation of Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), due to their country’s exclusion for supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed athletes from affected nations to compete as AINs if they meet specific criteria, which include not supporting the war and not being affiliated with Russian or Belarusian military or security agencies.

However, these athletes lack a national flag, colors, or anthem, and their medals are not included in the medal table of nations.

Ivan Litvinovich, 23, defended his title on Friday but, unlike the Tokyo Games where he heard the Belarusian anthem, he listened to a wordless song commissioned by the IOC as the teal AIN flag was raised in his honor.

Litvinovich, however, got a message of congratulations from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who wrote on his official website, “Dear Ivan, you are our pride! Thank you for the Olympic gold.”

MUST READ: Paris Olympics 2024: Which Medal Imane Khelif Will Atleast Take Home? Algerian Boxer Wins Bout Amid Gender Row

Ivan Litvinovich Shuts Down Reporter

Ivan Litvinovich quickly dismissed a reporter’s question about his previous support for Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, calling it a provocation and requesting that questions focus solely on sports. He did express, however, that he preferred the Belarusian anthem over the AIN anthem and hoped to compete under his own flag and anthem at future Olympics. Litvinovich also stated that his national identity remains unchanged.

Bardzilouskaya, 19, won silver in women’s trampoline behind Great Britain’s Bryony Page. She received congratulations from the Belarusian Olympic Committee (BOC), which is not recognized by the IOC. BOC president Viktor Lukashenko, Alexander Lukashenko’s son, praised Bardzilouskaya’s performance and the significance of her medal, emphasizing its value as the first for Belarus in Paris.

Russian athletes are also competing as AINs, with another AIN medal assured after Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider advanced to the women’s doubles tennis final. There are 15 Russians competing in Paris under this designation.

The IOC banned Russian and Belarusian athletes following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, the IOC later allowed athletes from these countries to compete as neutrals if they met strict criteria, citing the importance of respecting human rights.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized this decision, arguing that it implied acceptance of terrorism while Ukrainian athletes suffer in the conflict.

This marks the fourth consecutive Olympics where Russian athletes are competing under a neutral designation, following previous sanctions due to a state-sponsored doping scandal.

ALSO READ: Paris Olympic 2024: Manu Bhaker Misses Historic Third Medal, Finishes Fourth In 25m Air Pistol Final