The Ukrainian champion claims that the IOC is “buying” our passivity in the fight against the return of Russians and Belarusians to the sport
Ukrainian wrestler, 2020 Olympic champion and MP, Jean Beleniuk told what should be real steps to prevent the return of athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions.
“The main front is work at the level of the International Olympic Committee, and I want to note once again that we have representatives who are members of the IOC. There is Sergei Bubka, who does not comment on this topic.”
“I am very annoyed as an athlete and Olympian to watch this. And the main subject of communication between the country and the IOC is the National Olympic Committee. As I see it, simply sending letters from NOCs to various international federations is not the kind of work that Valery Sushkevich spoke about when he talked about the mechanisms for removing Russians and Belarusians from the International Paralympic Committee. This is behind-the-scenes work, work in Lausanne, where the Olympic Committee is located. That is, in communication with those who directly make this decision and vote.”
“We see two parallel stories where the issue of the return of the Russians and Belarusians, who seem to have been suspended from membership in November, as well as the IOC, headed by Mr. Bach, is not even raised among the Paralympic athletes. A person who came to Ukraine and told how they are in solidarity with Ukraine and how they will help: “Let’s give you money, and you will simply turn a blind eye to the arbitrariness that we will allow towards you.”
Earlier, the IOC Executive Board 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.
The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine sent letters to the Olympic committees of other countries and international federations regarding the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions.
Also, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine decided to boycott the qualifying tournaments for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, which will allow Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Source: Sportarena
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