The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that athletes from Russia and Belarus will not participate in the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics held this month.

According to TASS on the 4th (local time), an IOC official announced, “Not a single Russian or Belarusian athlete is eligible to participate as a neutral athlete in the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games held in Korea.”

Last March, the IOC recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be allowed to compete in international sports competitions if they meet certain conditions. The conditions presented at the time included that he must be a neutral player and not express active support for the war in Ukraine.

The two countries also expressed their intention to participate in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China in September and October last year, but participation ultimately failed. Participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics to be held next year is also uncertain.

Applications for participation in the competition closed last month. This competition will be held from the 19th to the 1st of next month in Gangneung-si, Pyeongchang-gun, Jeongseon-gun, and Hoengseong-gun in Gangwon-do, with over 1,900 athletes from over 80 countries participating.

This event is the first Winter Youth Olympics held in Asia. 19가이드03