Lukashenko called on Belarusians participating in the Olympics to “punch them in the face”

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko addressed the country’s athletes who are going to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. His words are quoted by BELTA.

Lukashenko called on the athletes who qualified and are going to the Games in a neutral status to “punch them in the face.” He emphasized that the decision to participate in the Olympics remains with the athletes.

On April 25, the head of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, Dmitry Svishchev, said that sanctions would not be introduced against Russian athletes for participating in the 2024 Olympic Games. He emphasized that the country’s leadership will respect the athletes’ decision.

Russians and Belarusians will be able to take part in the 2024 Olympics as individual neutral athletes by decision of the International Olympic Committee. However, athletes who support a special operation in Ukraine, as well as those who have connections with the armed forces or security agencies of Russia and Belarus, will miss the tournament. In addition, there will be no representatives of team sports from the two countries in Paris.