Sports ministers from 36 countries wrote a letter to Thomas Bach
Minister of Youth and Sports and newly elected President of the NOC of Ukraine Vadim Gutzeit spoke about what the sports ministers of 36 countries sent to the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach letter of need tighten sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
“The civilized world shares Ukraine’s position on blocking Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Olympic movement at the international level.”
“The sports ministers of the 25 EU member states, as well as colleagues from Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Great Britain and the USA appealed to IOC President Thomas Bach about the need to remove representatives of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus from key positions in international sports federations and organizing committees of major sporting events. I also joined this initiative and signed the corresponding letter.”
“Once again, I stressed in my address on our unchanged position: athletes from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus until the end of the Russian aggression against Ukraine have no right to participate in sports competitions in any status, including neutral.”
“I express respect and gratitude to the countries that support Ukraine, share our democratic values and understand the true price of freedom.”
Earlier, Gutzeit commented on the desire of French President Emmanuel Macron to admit Russian and Belarusian athletes to the 2024 Olympics.
Recall that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) upheld the sanctions against Russia and Belarus. The decision was made at the 11th Olympic Summit.
The full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine continues for the 292nd day.
Source: Sportarena
