TASS journalists barred from covering 2024 Paris Paralympics

PARIS, August 20. /TASS/. The Organizing Committee of the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in Paris has revoked the press passes of all journalists from the TASS Russian news agency, citing a ruling by the French authorities, the committee stated on Tuesday in a letter to the agency.
The Paralympics Organizing Committee previously approved the accreditation of two journalists from the agency, but changed its decision upon second review. Previously issued accreditations of two more of the agency’s journalists were revoked earlier as well.
On July 28, the Organizing Committee of the 2024 Summer Olympics stripped four TASS journalists of their previously issued accreditations referring to a decision made by the French authorities. Three journalists had time to report on the opening ceremony of the Games in Paris and on some of the sports events. TASS correspondents worked in full compliance with all regulations and there were no complaints whatsoever with regard to them on behalf of the organizers.
The 2024 Summer Paralympic Games will be held in the French capital of Paris between August 28 and September 8. Russian Paralympians will be participating in the 2024 Games under a neutral status. They were barred from taking part in the Parade of Athletes during the opening and closing ceremonies and also excluded from the 2024 Paralympics overall medal standings.
Last week, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that 90 Paralympians from Russia were cleared to take part in the 2024 Paris Summer Paralympic Games.
On March 6, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) published strict eligibility criteria that Russian and Belarusian athletes and support personnel must meet and adhere to in order to participate as neutrals at the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in Paris.
According to the IPC’s requirements “Neutral athletes will compete under a white flag featuring black lettering spelling out NPA [Neutral Paralympic Athletes].” The IPC also ruled that “NPA will compete as individuals in neutral uniforms under an NPA flag, and will not be able to take part in medals ceremonies or march in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.”
On September 29, 2023, the IPC General Assembly ruled at its session in Bahrain to suspend some of the rights the RPC has within the global organization.
However, the IPC General Assembly cleared Russian athletes to participate under a neutral status in international competition, including at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.
In mid-March this year, RPC President Rozhkov told TASS that Russian Paralympians and accompanying staff would don turquoise and beige at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
“They will wear varying shades of turquoise and beige… In line with the requirements on the neutral status participation of athletes, all national colors are prohibited from being displayed on uniforms and, in our case, this means the white, blue and red colors,” Rozhkov said at that time.