Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet said the decision over the participation of Russians and Belarusians rests with the International Olympic Committee ©Getty Images

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet and the French Government have insisted that the decision over the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes is in the hands of the International Olympic Committee.

The IOC is exploring options for athletes from the two nations to participate under a neutral banner at Paris 2024 but the move has prompted anger from several European nations, with some even threatening to boycott the Games.

Earlier this week, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo expressed her opposition to the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes while Ukraine remained under attack from Russian forces and claimed that the neutral banner "does not really exist".

"As long as Russia continues to wage war on Ukraine, I don’t want there to be a Russian delegation at the Paris 2024 Games," said Hidalgo.

"I would find that indecent."

There is growing opposition in Paris to athletes from Russia and Belarus competing under a neutral banner at next year's Olympics in the French capital ©Getty Images
There is growing opposition in Paris to athletes from Russia and Belarus competing under a neutral banner at next year's Olympics in the French capital ©Getty Images

According to French news agency Agence France-Presse, Paris Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire backed up Hidalgo’s comments, insisting that she "expressed very clearly the view of many countries, of many sports federations".

Estanguet resisted joining the dissenting voices in the French capital and stressed that the Organising Committee did not have the power to ban Russia and Belarus.

"It’s up to the IOC to ultimately decide whether the Russian delegation will be allowed to participate in the Paris Olympics," he said.

Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron was urged by Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy to help ensure that Russia and Belarus were not represented at Paris 2024.

But French Government spokesman Olivier Veran said the responsibility was with the IOC, saying that a "decision must be taken by the summer".

"No position has been formally agreed with the IOC yet," said Veran.

"I will wait for international cooperation to take its course."

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged French President Emmanuel Macron tp support efforts to block Russian and Belarusian participation ©Getty Images
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged French President Emmanuel Macron tp support efforts to block Russian and Belarusian participation ©Getty Images

Veran added that the "steadfast wish of France [is] that every possible sanction be applied fully and entirely".

The IOC has stressed that athletes from Russia and Belarus would be under "strict conditions" of neutrality and need to "fully respect the Olympic Charter", with sanctions including a ban on national symbols remaining in place.

Ukraine and Latvia have warned that they would consider boycotting the Olympics if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete in Paris next year, while Poland. Estonia, Denmark, Norway and Sweden are among the nations to express their opposition.

Zelenskyy met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London yesterday to discuss defence support and the prevention of Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing at Paris 2024.

He is due to hold talks with leaders from the European Union countries today.