Latvia will not prevent Russian Olympic athletes from entering Schengen area: PM

　　RIGA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Latvia has no plans to declare Russian Olympic athletes personae non gratae to deny them entry into the Schengen area, Prime Minister Evika Silina said on Wednesday.

　　Speaking to the media after a meeting with President Edgars Rinkevics, Silina said that the admission of Russian athletes to the Paris Olympic Games is the responsibility of the organizers, although Latvia has called attention to the participation of Russian athletes in the Games.

　　Last December, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved the participation of Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games under strict eligibility conditions.

　　AINs, athletes holding a Russian or Belarusian passport, who have secured their spots through the existing qualification systems of the International Federations on the field of play, will be deemed eligible to compete at Paris 2024, following specific conditions, the IOC announced then. ■