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The experience of allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions under a neutral flag has worked well, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in a social media statement.
The statement was a response to a letter from two Special Rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council (UNHRC) who expressed concern about sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes. It emphasizes that the decision to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete under a neutral flag “is supported by the vast majority of participants in the Olympic movement, in particular the Association of National Olympic Committees, and reflects what we have seen over the past two weeks at the Australian Open.”
“Tennis players competed as individual athletes under a neutral flag without identifying their country. The concept is well established and is used in cycling as well as a number of professional leagues in North America and Europe,” the IOC explained, adding that the principles on which the concept is based “are in line with the Olympic Charter.”
Recall that earlier Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions, including the Olympics, is “hypocritical and spineless.”
Source: Rosbalt
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