Why these 13 countries have been banned from the Olympics

Even though it may seem as though every country on Earth is playing in the 2024 Paris Olympics right now, there are a number of banned countries who absolutely can’t attend.

The Olympic games has been a regular occurrence since they were first held in 1896, having made a comeback since they were first brought to ancient Greece in 776BC.

The 2024 Paris Olympics have been a triumph so far. (François-Xavier Marit-Pool/Getty Images)

After they were officially established, the games went on to allow around 200 nation teams to participate in the hopes of hashing out who’s the top country in the world of sports.

But geopolitical issues, conflicts and crimes against humanity has meant that some countries were given the red card and told never to return.

Let’s find out who...

Russia

Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia has been banned this year from participating in the Olympic games.

This comes after the country was banned from the Olympics by the World Anti-Doping Agency for four years in 2019 - but this ban was shortened to two years after Russia appealed.

Soviet athlete Svetlana Masterkova wins the gold medal in the women's 1500m during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Belarus

Belarus is a strategic partner of Russia, having created close ties during the war in Ukraine.

For this reason, its athletes have also been banned from competing.

Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey

Though the above countries are competing this year in Paris, they were previously banned together in 1920, marking the first ever banning in history for the Summer Olympics.

The countries were banned thanks to their role in World War I.

However, Germany was also banned in 1924’s Paris games as an extension.

German gymnast Helen Kevric competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Japan

Alongside Germany (again), Japan was banned from participating in the 1948 games in London as a consequence of World War II.

South Africa

South Africa was subsequently banned from the Olympic Games from 1964 to 1992 due to its apartheid regime which saw extreme racial segregation.

Zimbabwe

In 1972, Zimbabwe was known as Rhodesia and was banned from the Munich games due to protests against the country and its racial segregation policies.

South African swimmer Tatjana Smith takes home a silver medal in Paris this year. (Xavier Laine/Getty Images)

Afghanistan

The country was banned in 2000 in response to the Taliban’s stance on women.

Even though the Taliban is back in power in Kabul in Afghan, athletes are still allowed to compete this year as they are waving the flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which was overthrown by the Taliban in 2021.

Kuwait

The Middle Eastern country was banned in 2015 by the International Olympic Committee after the government interfered in the country’s Olympic committee.

However, Kuwaiti athletes went on to play in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics under the Olympic flag.

North Korea

North Korea was banned in 2022 after refusing to play at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns.

But this choice was actually against the Olympic Charter, which meant that the country had to face consequences.

North Korea's Pyon Song Gyong. (UNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)

A country that many have called to be banned is Israel due to the ongoing war in Palestine.

Even though Israel has been allowed to compete, after much criticism to the event organisers, no changes seem to have been made regarding stopping its athletes from playing.

The country was previously accused by South Africa of committing genocide at the International Court of Justice which sparked mass support by online users.

For now, these are the only countries that have been banned from participating to date.