The International Olympic Committee has advised National Olympic Committees to refuse to participate in the World Friendship Games in Russia. A statement from the organization was made by James McLeod, Director of the IOC Committee Relations Department, Inside the Games reports.
According to the official, any participation of NOCs in these Friendship Games “would be contrary not only to the recommendation of the IOC Executive Committee of February 25, 2022 regarding international sporting events held in Russia, but also to the collective goal of the Olympic movement.” This goal, he said, is to preserve the independence and autonomy of the sport.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, has already responded to Maleod. “Biased, unscrupulous officials are turning the IOC into a committee at the throat of world sports,” she said, as quoted by Sport-Express.
Let us remind you that the Friendship Games are to be held from September 15 to 29, 2024 in Moscow and Yekaterinburg. The main part of the competition will take place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, and Ekaterinburg will host competitions in athletics, aquatics and judo.
On March 28, the IOC Executive Committee recommended that international federations allow Russian and Belarusian athletes who do not support military actions in Ukraine to participate, but in a neutral status.
Source: Rosbalt
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