The IOC makes it clear: There has not yet been a decision on whether Russia and Belarus are allowed to compete at the Olympics in Paris. Only a “primary concept for possible conditions of participation is currently being examined”. But it is not just Ukraine that is pushing for this.
The whole world is pressing, but the IOC is playing for time. No decision has yet been made on whether Russia and Belarus will be allowed to send teams to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, the International Olympic Committee said. Only a “primary concept for possible conditions of participation is currently being examined”.
The criticized world government of sport was reacting to a resolution by the European Parliament calling on the 27 EU member states to put pressure on the IOC. The considerations regarding an Olympic participation of the two aggressors Russia and Belarus are “an embarrassment for the international world of sports”.
However, according to the IOC this Monday, the EU Parliament “regrettably” did not take into account the concerns expressed by two special rapporteurs of the UN Human Rights Council. The UN representatives expressly praised the considerations regarding the admission of so-called “neutral athletes” and called on the IOC to rule out discrimination against any athlete on the basis of their nationality.
The IOC has now announced that the EU Parliament’s demand for “multiple isolation” of all Russians and Belarusians clearly contradicts this statement. The resolution is also in clear contradiction to the autonomy of sports organisations, which are an essential part of the European sport model and have been recognized by EU institutions on many occasions.
In Ukraine, which has been suffering from the Russian war of aggression for a year now, there is little sympathy for such an argument. In an interview with the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, Ukrainian Sports Minister Wadym Hutzajt condemned the IOC’s position: “While the Russian army is killing people, women and children on Ukrainian soil, the important infrastructure is being destroyed, the Ukrainians have to endure without light and warmth, they are allowed to not to think about admitting Russians and Belarusians to the Olympic Games and the qualifying competitions.”
Ukraine will “work to ensure that this doesn’t happen, we will fight against it. Many countries and their National Olympic Committees support us.” The Ukrainians “cannot bear it in such terrible times that athletes from Russia and Belarus compete alongside us in international competitions,” said Hutzajt: “If they are allowed to do so, then the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine will decide whether we will be among the Play drive or not.”
The Russian invasion, which marks the first anniversary of its beginning on February 24, has had a huge impact on sport in Ukraine, among other things. “343 different sports facilities have been destroyed. 231 athletes have been killed, 35 athletes are in captivity, 3,000 active athletes are fighting right on the front lines,” said Hutzajt. Sport is an important factor in his homeland: “Our athletes compete in the Ukrainian colors, they stand on the podium with our flag in their hands. The whole world should see that Ukraine was, is and will continue to be. “
