Olympic chiefs accused of endorsing Russian conflict in Ukraine after the IOC confirmed that athletes from Vladimir Putin’s nation CAN compete in Paris 2024 as ‘neutrals’, regardless of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s calls to ban them solely
- The International Olympic Committee launched an announcement on WednesdayÂ
- They stated Russians can compete as ‘neutrals’ in subsequent summer season’s Paris OlympicsÂ
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy phoned Emmanuel Macron urging him to ban Russians
Olympic chiefs have been accused of endorsing the conflict of Ukraine after confirming Russian athletes can compete at Paris 2024 as ‘neutrals’.
The International Olympic Committee launched an announcement on Wednesday claiming that ‘no athlete must be prevented from competing simply due to their passport’ and that ‘Governments should not determine which athletes can take part’.
That got here simply 24 hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy phoned his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron urging him to ban all Russians from subsequent summer season’s Olympics in Paris.
The IOC have confirmed that Russian athletes can compete in Paris subsequent yr as ‘neutrals’
The IOC have been accused of endorsing Russia’s conflict in Ukraine (IOC president Thomas Bach left with Vladimir Putin in 2018)
Following a board assembly on Wednesday, the IOC introduced a proposal for athletes from Russia and Belarus to enter Olympic qualification occasions in Asia reasonably than Europe, so long as they do no compete beneath their respective nation’s flag and haven’t actively supported the conflict.
The IOC’s resolution marks a significant U-turn on their stance final yr, once they inspired all Olympic sports activities to bar Russians and Belarusians, and dangers an enormous political and athlete backlash.
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Emmanuel Macron to ban all Russian athletesÂ
The IOC introduced a proposal for Russia and Belarus athletes to enter qualification occasions in Asia
Pressure group Global Athlete stated: ‘Today’s resolution sends a message to the world that the IOC endorses Russia’s brutal conflict and invasion of Ukraine. By permitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete, the IOC is strengthening Russia’s propaganda machine, empowering the Putin regime, and undermining peace.
‘The IOC is permitting the Games for use for sportwashing – to normalise, legitimise, and distract from the conflict. As a servant of Russia, the IOC continues to be on the improper facet of historical past with this resolution that favours politics over precept and conflict over peace.’
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