INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday for ruling that Russian athletes can only compete in Paris next year
of Russian and Belarusian athletes at next year's Games as neutrals, outside of team events, and as long as they did not actively support
Moscow's large-scale military intervention in Ukraine.The IOC "announced their readiness to admit Russian and Belarusian athletes to the
Paris Olympics, and then immediately mockingly announced how many of them had been admitted," Russian Olympic Committee president
from Russia and three from Belarus who had qualified as neutral athletes.It said that no Russian or Belarusian athletes under contract with
military or national security agencies would be allowed to compete.It added that no Russian and Belarusian flags or symbols would be
displayed at the games.President Vladimir Putin said Russian authorities would need to thoroughly assess the conditions allowing Russian
athletes to attend the Paris Olympics in summer 2024."By inventing criteria and parameters that not only violate but devalue the Olympic
deprived of their national identity," he added.He called on eligible athletes to "carefully examine" the participation conditions to avoid
becoming "hostage to other interests."More than 60 Ukrainian athletes have qualified for next year's Paris Olympics, the IOC said earlier
