Olympics-Putin hosts Russians heading to Tokyo Games without flag, anthem

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a meeting with the country's Olympic athletes ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in Moscow, Russia June 30, 2021. Sputnik/Alexei Nikolskyi/Kremlin via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin hosted Russian athletes heading to the Tokyo Olympics at the Kremlin on Wednesday, wishing them medals and vowing to protect their rights as they are set to compete without their flag and anthem because of doping sanctions.

Russian athletes are barred from competing at major international events, including the Olympics, with their flag and anthem until late 2022. More than 330 Russians will compete in Tokyo under the name "ROC", an acronym for the Russian Olympic Committee.