The presidents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia said at a meeting in Tallinn that they expect the IOC decision on the admission of Russians and Belarusians to the Olympics in Paris in a neutral status to be cancelled, RBC reports with reference to the Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT).
The IOC announced on November 8 that athletes from the two countries will compete in Paris under strict conditions if they can qualify, which has already been completed in many sports. So far, only eight athletes have qualified from Russia.
“This is a very disappointing decision and I still hope that it can be reviewed and corrected,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said. He added that it was “very disappointing” to see such decisions “at a critical stage” of the military conflict in Ukraine.
The head of Estonia, Alar Karis, said that “as a citizen and a person who loves sports,” he considers the IOC decision unacceptable.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevich allowed a boycott of the Games if the IOC does not change its mind. “In my opinion, if nothing changes, it will be very difficult to see Ukrainian or Latvian athletes there. But this decision, of course, must be made by the government and the sports community in each country and must be well coordinated and well thought out with like-minded countries, including Ukraine, the Baltic countries and other European countries that are unhappy with these decisions (IOC),” said Rinkevich.
Source: Rosbalt
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