The decision of the IOC on the return of athletes has not yet been made.
sports ministers Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia issued an official statement to International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Countries have declared support for Ukraine. In addition, officials called on the IOC to prevent athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in the 2024 Olympic Games.
“We condemn the attempts of the International Olympic Committee to return the athletes of the aggressor countries of Russia and Belarus to international competitions. At a time when free and democratic countries are joining forces to increase support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, which is backed by Belarus, the IOC is beginning to look for special forms of participation for athletes from Russia and Belarus in international sports competitions, including the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 year,” the statement said.
Also, in the appeal of the ministers, it was announced the support of Ukrainian athletes, coaches and sports personnel for “protection of common values and interests of free states”.
The IOC is ready to consider the possibility of admitting athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions. At the same time, everyone who wishes will be required to act in a neutral status. Also, athletes should not support the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and pass a mandatory doping test.
The Olympic Summit, chaired by IOC President Thomas Bach, unanimously agreed to accept an initiative proposed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in its competitions.
The NOC of Ukraine will hold an online conference on February 3. During the meeting, the issue of a possible boycott by Ukraine of the 2024 Olympic Games will be discussed, to which representatives of the Russian Federation and Belarus under a neutral flag may be admitted.
Ex-world heavyweight champion Volodymyr Klitschko, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling and Verkhovna Rada deputy Jean Beleniuk, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba, ex- Andriy Shevchenko, coach of the Ukrainian national football team.
However, the IOC does not plan to consider all applications regarding the return of athletes from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus to the Olympic Games-2024. The IOC believes that a complete ban on the performance of Russian and Belarusian athletes is discrimination and is contrary to the Olympic Charter.
The organizers of the 2024 Olympics in Paris said they would adhere to the decision of the International Olympic Committee to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete under a neutral flag.
Source: Sportarena
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