Gutzeit: We will work so that doubting federations do not allow Russians to participate in international competitions

The President of the NOC of Ukraine focused on those athletes who are in the power structures of the aggressor countries

Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and President of the NOC of Ukraine Vadim Gutzeit commented on the decision International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions.

“I want to say frankly that I am worried about our athletes, our national teams and all Ukrainians in general, because it was very important for us that athletes from Russia and Belarus were not anywhere on sports arenas. Unfortunately, today… You have seen all our work. Everything that was possible, we did on our diplomatic front. I want to say that thanks to the President of Ukraine and the President of the NOC of Ukraine, a lot has been done for all federations. We have worked with every country and federation. All presidents of All-Ukrainian federations joined and worked in their federations. It was important for us that now every Federation in every sport will make this decision.”

“We proceed from the fact that these rules are for those federations that have allowed or want to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes. In the future, we will work, we will do our job so that all international federations that have not yet allowed athletes from the aggressor countries still do not let them in.

“We know that the International Fencing Federation, prior to these IOC recommendations, returned Russian and Belarusian athletes. But this will happen only according to the criteria provided by the IOC. The World Athletics Federation does not return Russian and Belarusian athletes, the Ice Hockey Federation does not return, the Curling Federation also does not return. That is, now it is important for us that we already work with specific federations. All our Presidents of the All-Ukrainian Federations should work with their International Federations to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from being admitted. Therefore, the IOC provided recommendations to International Sports Federations wishing to admit Russians and Belarusians. And that’s just on an individual basis. No participation of Russians and Belarusians in the form of teams in international competitions was considered.”

“Athletes and personnel from aggressor states that support the war or military personnel or employees of any law enforcement agencies are prohibited. This is something that we have constantly noted in communication with the IOC, that there are almost 70% of the athletes who are in the armed forces and are military personnel.”

“They all receive a salary in the armed forces, they are in the clubs of CSKA, Dynamo. We all know that their special services have their own teams and they get paid there. They have dividends from the places where they are located. We now need to track this, find out who and where is located. Find those who are in the military, in the Armed Forces or in other law enforcement agencies. And as I understand it, cooperate with international federations so that they do not allow them. It will be difficult work, but we will need to do it.”

Earlier it was reported that the IOC recommended the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions in a neutral status. At the same time, teams from Russia and Belarus, as well as athletes who support the war or have a contract with the armies of the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus, are not allowed to participate in the tournaments.

It is noted that the IOC Executive Board did not consider the issue of admitting Russians and Belarusians to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Source: Sportarena

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