President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko supported the possibility for Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions without a national flag.
On Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced recommendations on the admission of Russians and Belarusians to international competitions. Recommendations include individual eligibility, neutral status, no team events, no entry for athletes associated with law enforcement.
– The successes and failures for us and our society do not depend on whether the athlete will be with or without a flag. He will arrive home and unfurl the Belarusian flag at the airport and say: “I was deprived of the right to play under this flag there, but I am a patriot.” I (in this matter) proceed from the personality of an athlete, this is his life,” Lukashenka said during his annual address to the Belarusian people and the national assembly.
In February last year, the IOC Executive Board recommended federations not to invite Russians and Belarusians to compete due to the situation in Ukraine. In many sports, athletes from both countries were suspended from starts, some federations allowed them to be neutral without national symbols.
Source : MatchTV
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