This International Olympic Committee He insists on seeking a way that would allow Russian athletes to compete impartially at next year’s Olympic Games. United Nations‘Searching for peace in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian flag was hoisted with a ceremony. IOCThe Olympic House headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Friday, to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the neighboring country, at a time when the governing body was dismissed. facing criticism for his efforts To give Russian and Belarusian athletes a chance to play in Paris.
An IOC statement released Friday cited a United Nations resolution calling on member states and international organizations to “double up diplomatic efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
IOC president Thomas Bach He previously cited a UN resolution from December when explaining why his organization, national Olympic committees and international sports federations are now considering allowing Russian athletes to compete in qualifying events ahead of next year’s Games.
In this resolution, which was also cited in Friday’s statement, “major international sporting events should be held in a spirit of peace, mutual understanding and international cooperation, friendship and tolerance without any discrimination” and should respect the unifying and conciliatory nature of such events.
The IOC criticized national governments for being involved in this issue and said that athletes should not be discriminated against because of the passports they hold.
A group of more than 30 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and 2024 Olympics Host country France issued a mass statement on Monday, urging the IOC to uphold the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, first on 28 February last year.
The group of nations agreed that it was wrong to discriminate against an athlete simply because of his nationality, but pointed to the difficulties of ensuring the neutrality of Russian athletes when so many athletes are state-funded, and also highlighted the fact that many have ties to them. Russian army.
UK Culture Minister Lucy Frazer also argued that allowing them to compete would help “legitimate” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime and his invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s sports minister has said that his country will boycott the Games if Russian or Belarusian athletes are allowed to participate.