Despite the International Olympic Committee (IOC) inviting 36 Russians and 22 Belarusians to compete in the Paris Olympics under a neutral banner, only 16 Russians and 17 Belarusians have accepted. Many athletes, including the top-ranked female tennis players, have declined, citing the IOC’s selection process or their opposition to the war in Ukraine.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has invited eight top Russian tennis players, along with Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka from Belarus, to compete as neutral athletes at the Paris Olympics. However, some athletes have already declined the offer, citing reasons such as scheduling conflicts and health concerns. The invitation comes as part of the IOC’s vetting process to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in individual Olympic sports while excluding them from team sports due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
