Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Locker Check and Affidavit for Flag Bearer Candidates

They will have to show their credentials. According to RMC Sport, all athletes who intend to fly the flag for the French delegation during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will be required to provide a clear criminal record and an affidavit to ensure there are no disciplinary and/or criminal sanctions. in any case relating to doping, competition manipulation or sexist and sexual violence. These criteria will be clarified in letters sent to federation presidents in the coming days.

They clarify the criteria that we announced on March 12: candidates must have already participated in the Olympic Games at least once and cannot already carry the flag. Two points that excluded some French sports stars such as Victor Wembanyama, Antoine Dupont or Teddy Riner and Clarisse Agbenenou. The last ethical criterion closes the door on handball player Nikola Karabatic and perhaps pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie or volleyball player Erwin Ngapeth.

Nikola Karabatic is de facto fired

The criminal history transcript that applicants must provide is Brief No. 3, which relates to prison sentences for felonies and misdemeanors. This aspect does not affect anyone. On the other hand, Renaud Lavillenie and Erwin Ngapeth were given suspended prison sentences in 2007 and 2023 (entries in Criminal Record No. 1). Finally, for Nikola Karabatic, one more point will be important: evidence of honor on any issue related to the manipulation of competitions. In 2016, he was sentenced to two months in prison in the Paris case.

As has been the case since the Rio Games (previously the flag bearer was appointed by the committee or the president of the CNOSF), each federation must provide two names (a man and a woman) or even one if it so wishes. In this regard, CNOSF also wishes to reduce the number of candidates as much as possible. Then it’s time to vote. All those selected to participate in the Olympics (about 550 athletes) must vote. Consultations will take place no earlier than early July, after the last meeting of the selection committee.