New Delhi, April 29: Six to eight Palestinian athletes are expected to compete at the Paris Olympics in July-August 2024, even if they fail to qualify, the media reported.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach confirmed that losing qualification to Palestinian athletes will not limit them to compete at the Olympics.
“We have made a clear commitment that even if no (Palestinian) athlete would qualify on the field of play, the NOC (National Olympic Committee) of Palestine would benefit from invitations,” he told reporters. Five Palestinian athletes competed at the Tokyo Games in 2020.
About treating Russia differently compared to Israel’s invasion of Palestine, the IOC chief said “The situation in Israel and Palestine is completely different.”
Palestinian terrorists from Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the death of 1,170 people in Israel which counterattacked Gaza, killing 34,356 people in Palestine including women and children.
After Russia invaded Ukraine, Russian athletes were banned from competing under their national flag at the Paris Games. They are also required to have never supported the war in Ukraine.