Five-time Olympic French biathlon champion Martin Fourcade spoke out in favor of admitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Earlier, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it would consider the possibility of admitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to world starts in a neutral status, who have not actively supported the OSV. IOC chief Thomas Bach has admitted that the Russians could participate in the Paris Olympics in a neutral status. On February 2, the committee noted that this matter had not yet been discussed and that the organization still did not have criteria according to which individual admission to competitions could be made.
There are many who will understand and many who will not. I’m not saying my words are true, but as a human being I have the right to my own opinion. I feel like I can talk about it. As an athlete and a representative of athletes, I think we should consider the possibility of returning Russian and Belarusian athletes to competitions. This is the main message. I was elected to the IOC to protect athletes. This also applies to athletes from Russia and Belarus.
In this peaceful arena, sports arena, we can show the world that we can be happy and fight for the values of sport. I will be ashamed if France decides to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in the Olympics. I don’t understand how we can greet the world without Russian and Belarusian athletes,” NRK said, citing Fourcade.
NRK
Source : MatchTV
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