Angry Ukrainian athletes call on IOC boss Thomas Bach to ‘select a side in this battle’ in mild of athletes from Russia and Belarus being welcomed again to compete as neutrals – after Olympic chief urged nation to drop menace to BOYCOTT 2024 Games
- Ukraine are threatening to boycott the 2024 Olympic Games as a type of protestÂ
- Athletes are livid that Russian and Belarusian athletes might compete as impartial
- IOC boss Thomas Bach wrote a letter, seen by Sportsmail, to a Ukrainian minister
Ukrainian athletes have hit out at Olympic chief Thomas Bach after he urged them to drop their threats of boycotting Paris 2024.
Ukraine are contemplating skipping subsequent summer time’s Games after the International Olympic Committee opened the door for athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete as neutrals regardless of the continuing battle.
In a letter seen by Sportsmail, IOC president Bach wrote to Ukraine’s sports activities minister Vadym Guttsait, who can also be the pinnacle of the nation’s nationwide Olympic committee, describing their menace to boycott and try to get different nations to do the identical as ‘extraordinarily regrettable’.
Bach additionally warned Guttsait that boycotting is a ‘violation of the Olympic constitution’, one thing which might end result in a nation being suspended by the IOC.
However, in a assertion launched on Thursday, Ukrainian athletes responded: ‘The IOC continues to be on the mistaken side of historical past and their letter is additional proof of the ability Russia has over the organisation and the Olympic motion.
Olympic chief Thomas Bach has been criticised in a joint-statement from Ukrainian athletes
‘In the letter, the IOC informed Ukraine that threatening to boycott the Olympic Games can be a violation of the Olympic constitution and would end result in a sanction. The IOC’s inverted stance in the direction of the aggressor and the sufferer of this battle flouts the Olympic constitution and undermines peace.
‘Russia’s battle of aggression has value a whole bunch of hundreds of lives, destroyed infrastructure, threatened the steadiness of the worldwide meals provide, and risked nuclear disaster.
‘By welcoming Russian athletes again to the Olympic Games, the IOC is rewarding Russia’s actions. By threatening to punish the NOC of Ukraine for declining to compete towards Russia on the Olympic Games, the IOC is denying Ukraine’s proper to sovereignty.
‘The IOC is rewarding Putin’s aggression whereas the demise and destruction of his victims are being ignored. The IOC should select a side in this battle.’
Earlier this week, the Olympic committees of 5 Nordic nations backed requires Russian and Belarusian athletes to be banned for Paris 2024.
The British Government additionally oppose Russians and Belarusians collaborating, however Team GB wouldn’t again any boycott.
In a letter to Ukraine’s sports activities minister Vadym Guttsait (pictured) – which has been seen by Sportsmail – Bach urged the nation not to boycott the 2024 Games in Paris over Russian and Belarusian athletes holding the potential to find a way to return to competitors as neutrals