Three-time Olympic champion Tessa Virtue spoke out against the participation of Russians in the 2024 Olympics
A group of 42 former Canadian Olympians called on the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Canada to abandon the idea of supporting the admission of Russians to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. It is reported by the Associated Press.
“We condemn the recent public statements by the Canadian NOC in support of considering the possibility of Russians and Belarusians competing as neutral athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics,” the athletes said in a statement. The document was signed by the most titled figure skater in the world, three-time Olympic ice dancing champion Tessa Virtue, four-time Olympic ice hockey champion Haley Wickenheiser, Olympic freestyle champion Jennifer Hale and others.
Earlier, the head of the NOC of Canada, David Shoemaker, advocated studying the possibility of Russian participation in tournaments in a neutral status. “We recognize that the decision to exclude athletes solely because of their nationality is also contrary to the basic principles of the Olympic Movement,” he said.
On January 25, the IOC said that they were considering the possibility of individual admission to competitions for Russian and Belarusian athletes and their performance under a neutral flag. It was clarified that only athletes who did not support the conduct of a special operation in Ukraine and did not violate anti-doping rules would get a chance to take part in international tournaments.
The Olympic Games are to be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
Source: Lenta
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