Dhe Belarusian ruler Aleksandr Lukashenka reacted angrily to his suspension by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Lukashenka, who is also president of the National Olympic Committee (NOK) in his country, announced that he would bring IOC President Thomas Bach and his staff to court. “We have to go to court. Let Bach and his gang explain what my fault is, ”said Lukashenka in a letter published by his office. He could cope with the exclusion from the Olympics. “I haven’t taken part in these events for 25 years and will survive.”
Lukashenka also questioned the legality of the IOC’s decision. “Have you questioned all countries?” Said the controversial ruler. He did not understand that his son Viktor (45) was also suspended as the first Vice President of the NOK. “Okay, I’ll survive, but why are you punishing children?” The IOC had suspended the autocratic ruling power because the NOK of Belarus did not protect its athletes from political discrimination enough. 1200 representatives of sport in Belarus, coaches, officials and athletes, had signed a declaration against the president and for new elections.
German sport reacted to the decision of the IOC with approval but also doubts. “This is a clear and welcome decision,” said Alfons Hörmann, President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) to the SID. The Belarus athletes protested “courageously” against the conditions in their own NOK. Lukashenka crossed a red line and trampled athletes’ rights.
Dagmar Freitag initially referred to the IOC’s decision as a “hint”, especially since it is a provisional measure. “The last time we saw how flexible the IOC can row back was at the Winter Games in Pyeongchang in 2018, when the Russian team was officially allowed to arrive at the graduation ceremony with a flag,” said the chairwoman of the sports committee in the German Bundestag. The free representations of the athletes, who keep up the pressure on the IOC, may also have influenced the decision. “We hope that the sanctions will have the right effect,” said spokesman Maximilian Klein from the Athletes Germany Association to the SID.
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