Ukraine should not punish athletes by boycotting the Olympic Games in Paris because of the admission of Russians and Belarusians. This was stated by the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, writes the German Die Zeit, excerpts are provided by the Izvestia newspaper.
He emphasized that if the IOC does not comply with all the requirements of Ukraine, this does not mean that the organization supports military operations. The IOC has been on the side of Ukrainian athletes from the very beginning, Bach added. “So why should Ukraine punish its own athletes because of a military conflict and take away their dream of the Olympic Games?” – Bach noted.
According to him, the decision to admit Russian and Belarusian athletes did not fully satisfy either side of the conflict. Thus, the IOC found a “golden mean,” Bach added.
Previously, Kiev did not rule out a Ukrainian boycott of the 2024 Olympic Games due to the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in them.
Let us remind you that the IOC previously announced that Russian athletes will be allowed to the Olympics in Paris in a neutral status. In this case, the criteria will apply under which the athlete will be allowed to compete. Only those athletes who have managed to qualify in their sports will be allowed to participate in the games; in this case, the athlete will undergo selections individually. The IOC also clarifies that Russian athletes will not participate in team competitions. Eligible athletes will compete under a neutral flag and anthem. Finally, there will be a ban on participation for those who actively support the military operation in Ukraine and are related to the army or other security forces.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
