Belarus’ top tennis players to compete at Paris Olympics as neutrals

March 7, Pozirk. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has allowed tennis players from Belarus and Russia to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics in a neutral status, says a statement released on March 6.
Aryna Sabalenka (ranked 2 by the WTA) and Viktoryja Azaranka (30) are expected to qualify.
In February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that athletes and officials from Belarus and Russia should be excluded from international competitions after Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine. This recommendation was implemented immediately and on a mass scale.
However, tennis players from both countries continued competing in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournaments.
In late March 2023, the IOC recommended the return of Belarusian and Russian athletes to international competitions in a neutral status and only if they are not actively involved in supporting military operations and are not contracted to the military.
Several international sports federations complied with the IOC recommendations and agreed to allow athletes from Belarus and Russia to compete.
At the same time, Belarusian athletes who supported the 2020 postelection protests were forced to stop their professional careers. Only three Belarusian dissident athletes, who obtained Polish sports citizenship, may qualify for the Paris Olympics: horse rider Volha Safronava, track and field athletes Kryścina Cimanoŭskaja and Maryja Žodzik.
- SocietyHeavy rain disrupts public transit in MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLithuanian army: Russia’s hands full in Ukraine, unlikely to use Zapad-2025 for attackThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyUN experts sound alarm over violations of trade unionists’ rights in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarusian Railway announces delays for Russia-bound trainsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus to import potatoes from Kyrgyzstan – reportThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusians net sellers of foreign currency in January-MayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityCSTO officials discuss preparations for September exercisesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarusian man arrested in Poland, accused of transporting irregular migrantsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja greets Denmark on Constitution DayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus’ defense minister meets Pakistani defense ministry’s secretaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityIrregular entry attempts peak at Belarus-Latvia borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: musician arrested over critical songsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Economy, PoliticsEstonia moves to terminate tax deal with BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityEstonian Parliament backs withdrawal from antipersonnel mine ban conventionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLithuanian government approves amendments allowing for national sanctions against BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietySupreme Court promises to restore access to schedule of court hearings in JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyBelarus seizes building that hosts Polish consulate from co-ownerThe material is available only to POZIRK+