Sanctions against Russia and Belarus remain, support for Ukraine will continue
International Olympic Committee (IOC) published statement on the occasion of the anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“February 24, 2023 marks the year since Russia, with the support of Belarus, invaded Ukraine. A year of brutal war, human suffering, murder and destruction. We deeply sympathize with the Ukrainian people in this brutal war, the pain and suffering of which is unimaginable. On this grim anniversary, the Olympic Movement joins the call for peace and is ready to make its modest contribution to any effort for the development of peace.”
“The IOC most strongly condemned the senseless war on the day of the invasion. With no end in sight to the fighting after a year of bloodshed, the IOC once again condemns the war in Ukraine, which is a flagrant violation of the Olympic Truce and the Olympic Charter that was in effect at the time.”
“For this reason, the IOC has imposed unprecedented sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian states and governments responsible for this war: no international sporting events in Russia and Belarus; absence of a flag, anthem or other national symbols; and no government or government officials accredited to any international sporting event. These sanctions were put in place in February 2022 and then further strengthened and reaffirmed by the recent Olympic Summit on December 9, 2022. They remain steadfast.”
“At the same time, the IOC reaffirms its solidarity with Ukrainian athletes who face untold challenges day in and day out. Since the war has been going on for more than a year, the entire Olympic movement remains unwavering in its desire to help Ukrainian athletes in every possible way, because we all want to see a strong team from the NOC of Ukraine at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Milan 2026 Winter Olympic Games.”
“To this end, the IOC has tripled its Solidarity Fund for Ukraine so that athletes have full support to overcome the enormous difficulties they face in order to fulfill their Olympic dream. About 3,000 athletes have already benefited from the assistance provided by the IOC Solidarity Fund through the NOC of Ukraine. These efforts take the form of not only financial assistance, but also logistical support and ensuring that Ukrainian athletes can continue to compete.”
“From the very beginning, since the ancient Olympic Games, our mission has always been to promote peace through sport. The IOC remains committed to this mission of uniting the entire world in peaceful competition to this day. Recent examples of such peaceful competitions include athletes from South and North Korea, Israel and Palestine, Armenia and Azerbaijan, to name a few.”
“The Olympic Games cannot prevent wars and conflicts. They also cannot solve all the political and social challenges of our world. This is the realm of politics. But the Games can become an example for a world where everyone respects the same rules and each other. They can inspire us to solve problems, build bridges that lead to a better understanding of people. They can open doors for dialogue and development of the world in a way that alienation and division do not.”
“The vast majority of the Olympic Movement, including athletes, National Olympic Committees and International Federations, support strong solidarity with Ukraine, the sanctions imposed against Russia and Belarus, and the peacekeeping, unifying mission of the Olympic Movement. United in this Olympic spirit at this harrowing yearly milestone, the entire Olympic Movement echoes the call we made a year ago to all the world’s political leaders: “Give peace a chance.”
Earlier, the IOC responded to a request from a group of countries demanding clarification of the definition of “neutrality” in relation to athletes from Russia and Belarus. The Committee also criticized the resolution of the European Parliament, which condemned the attempts of the IOC to allow athletes from aggressor countries to the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Among the countries that signed the official letter to the IOC were the US, UK, France, Canada and Germany. The statement was also signed by Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Denmark, which are considering the possibility of a boycott of the Olympics if athletes from Russia and Belarus are admitted.
The appeal to the IOC was the result of an online meeting between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and government leaders from more than 30 countries. During this meeting, Zelensky called for not allowing representatives of terrorist states to the Games in any status.
The IOC is ready to consider the possibility of admitting athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions. In this case, 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 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 IOC to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete under a neutral flag.
Source: Sportarena
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