The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Thursday that Russia and Belarus, along with Guatemala, will be excluded from formally receiving invitations to 2024 Paris Olympics when more than 200 national teams receive invites on July 26.
"We are still confronted with two irreconcilable positions. The Russian side wants the IOC to ignore the war. The Ukrainian side wants the IOC to totally isolate anyone with a Russian and Belarusian passport," the Committee said in a statement.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus might still be permitted to compete in the tournament as "neutral athletes" despite the decision to not invite their national teams from attending the event the following year, the Committee explained.