The International Olympic Committee (IOC), in consultations with international federations and athletes’ representatives, has decided to explore ways in which Russians and Belarusians can participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. “No athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport,” the IOC said in a statement on Wednesday. “A pathway for athletes’ participation in competition under strict conditions should therefore be further explored.” An Olympic summit on December 9 opened the door for the return of athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competiti…