The IOC allowed athletes from aggressor countries to qualify for two-man teams in kayaking and canoeing
Ukraine demands to be removed from Olympics 2024 crews of Russian and Belarusian athletes in kayaking and canoeing.
President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine Vadim Gutzeit, Acting Minister of Youth and Sports Matvey Bedny and President of the Ukrainian Canoe Federation Igor Slivinsky sent a joint letter to the leadership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Canoe Federation. In the letter, representatives of Ukraine pointed out a gross violation of IOC recommendations regarding the admission of Russian and Belarusian crews.
Teams (twos) of Russian and Belarusian athletes received permission to participate in a neutral status at the European Olympic qualifying selection for kayaking and canoeing, which will be held on May 8-9 in Szeged, Hungary. The IOC recommendations clearly state that teams of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport cannot be admitted. In other sports, the participation of teams (duets in artistic swimming or crews – pairs, fours – in rowing) is not permitted.
According to expert forecasts, no more than 58 athletes (36 Russians and 22 Belarusians) will be able to enter the Olympic Games in Paris in a neutral status. In March, the IOC Executive Committee approved some provisions regarding such athletes – in particular, they were denied participation in the traditional parade at the opening ceremony of the Games. Additionally, medals earned by neutral athletes will not appear on the official standings.
Let us recall that at the beginning of December 2023, the IOC Executive Committee decided to admit participants from Russia and Belarus in the status of “individual neutral athletes” to the 2024 Olympic Games. This decision has been repeatedly criticized by various authorities in Ukraine and abroad.
Source: Sportarena
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