Ukraine will later decide on its participation in the 2024 Olympic Games after the scandalous decision on the admission of Russians and Belarusians
Acting Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Matvey Bedny published a statement regarding the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the 2024 Olympics.
“The decision of the IOC Executive Committee to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to hide behind fake neutrality is irresponsible. Only the other day, the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, announced that the corresponding decision of the IOC will be made only in March next year.”
“For our part, we explained to international partners and the Olympic Committee that Russian athletes have the same passports as the occupiers who kill Ukrainians. This means that they bear part of the responsibility for the death of Ukrainians. During war, it will not be possible to hide behind the white flag of “neutrality.” Neutrality at a time when Europe is experiencing the bloodiest war since World War II and one nation is trying to destroy another means irresponsibility and silent acquiescence to murderers.”
“We strongly condemn the irresponsible decision of the members of the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee. The only state that has violated the Olympic Truce three times is Russia. The only state trying to hold an alternative to the Olympics is Russia. The only state threatening to come to the Olympics in tanks is Russia.”
“What else should Russia do – who else should Russia kill so that the International Olympic Committee can finally take off its rose-colored glasses towards the terrorist country?”
“Regarding Ukraine’s participation in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games: we will make a decision later, after consulting with the Ukrainian sports community and the country’s top political leadership.”
Let us remind you that today the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to admit participants from Russia and Belarus in the status of “individual neutral athletes” to the 2024 Olympic Games.
Earlier, in October, the IOC officially suspended the activities of the Russian Olympic Committee for violating the Olympic Charter. The reason was the inclusion of “Olympic councils” from the occupied territories of Ukraine into the latter. However, the governing body did not change the conditions for the admission of “neutral” athletes.
In November, the IOC called for the abandonment of the World Friendship Games, which Russia had planned for September 2024. Additionally, the IOC has not changed its guidelines regarding the participation of “individual neutral athletes” in competitions subject to “strict conditions.”
At the same time, earlier the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, spoke about the IOC’s desire to return athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions “for the sake of uniting the whole world at the Olympic Games.” The German called the position of Ukraine, which opposed the admission of all athletes from aggressor countries, “unconstructive.”
Back in March, the IOC Executive Committee recommended the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions in a neutral status.
In the early hours of February 24, Russia launched rocket and air strikes on most Ukrainian cities and then launched a full-scale military invasion. The Russian war against Ukraine has continued for the 653rd day.
Source: Sportarena
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