Gutzeit: Aggressor countries should be prevented from participating in international competitions

Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and President of the NOC Vadim Gutzeit commented on the ban on the performance of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the European Games 2023.

“Everyone I met at the European Games is in solidarity with us and the Olympic Charter. That is, the aggressor countries should be deprived of the opportunity to participate in international competitions, because such competitions are a privilege, not a right.”

“Our athletes will not be able to feel safe if there are representatives of the aggressor countries nearby. Moreover, the most titled Russian athletes have military ranks, play for military clubs and support Russia’s war against Ukraine. And we can’t put our athletes in danger.”

Recall, 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. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already reacted to the decision of the Government of Ukraine to boycott the qualifying tournaments for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

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.

In turn, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to prevent athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in the 2024 Olympics “while the war against Ukraine continues “.