Russia, Belarus Olympic volunteers shown the door over 'security' fears

Participants to the "Marathon Pour Tous" arrive with Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics flags during the Olympics Flag Tour at the Hotel de Matignon in Paris on April 25, 2024. PARIS: When Diana, a Russia n national living in France, received notification late last year that she had been selected as a volunteer for the Paris Olympics , she was ecstatic.

She received a mission assignment, attended a volunteer convention in March, underwent some training and was looking forward to getting her uniform in May. Diana, who works for a major French company, was shaken."I realised I present a major danger to this country. Only I don't understand why."Diana is not alone. Many Olympic volunteers with Russian and Belarusian passports - some living in France, others living in their home countries - have reported receiving identical letters, citing security risks.

A total of 45,000 people were selected to serve as volunteers at the Jul 26-Aug 11 Olympics and the Paralympics, from Aug 28-Sep 8. When he received a letter from the organisers this week, he did not immediately realise what it meant."Do you understand that we are being kicked out from the Olympics?" a fellow volunteer told him. Shaliapin said he cried when the news sank in.A 45-year-old Russian woman, who requested anonymity, said her candidacy had also been turned down even though she received asylum in France following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and handed in her Russian passport.

Jules Boykoff, who teaches political science at Pacific University in Oregon, said:"The sudden decision to jettison already-approved Olympic volunteers from Russia and Belarus is not only uncommon, but it also makes one wonder about the initial vetting process.

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