During a surprise visit to Kyiv, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe extended a personal invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to attend the Olympics as his guest. Coe emphasized the significance of athletics as the number one Olympic sport and expressed his desire for Zelensky to witness the competition in Paris.
Amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, World Athletics has taken a firm stance by banning all Russian and Belarussian athletes from elite competition. This decision contrasts with the International Olympic Committee's allowance of Russian athletes to participate as neutrals in the upcoming Paris Games.
