DMEPs have called on European Union member states and the international community to urge the International Olympic Committee to reverse its decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international sport on principle.
The resolution passed on Thursday to mark the anniversary of Russia’s unleashing a war of aggression against Ukraine said the IOC’s stance was “an embarrassment to the international sporting world”. Parliamentarians again condemned the IOC’s decision, taken by its executive on January 25. The participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under neutral flags, as sought by the IOC, will be “used by both regimes for propaganda purposes”.
Criticism of Bach grows
In addition, the parliamentarians called on the “EU partners” to continue to support Ukraine “politically and humanitarianally”. Parliament expressed its gratitude to all countries that have shown and continue to show “unprecedented unity, solidarity and support” towards Ukraine “since the first hour of the war”.
In the wake of the unleashing of the Russian war last spring, the IOC called on the international sports federations to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from their competitions. The reason given was always that they could be exposed to hostilities, for example from Ukrainian athletes, and that governments allied with Ukraine could prevent them from participating in competitions in their countries.
The decision of the IOC executive at the end of January to allow the return in principle was prepared by IOC President Bach for months. While Bach initially dismissed the growing criticism – on the fringes of the Luge World Championships in Oberhof at the end of January he said on ZDF that “these considerations are supported worldwide, there is a huge majority” – the criticism is growing.
At a conference on February 10, chaired by British Sports Minister Lucy Frazer, 36 governments from Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania agreed in principle that they did not share the IOC’s view and wanted Russian and Belarusian athletes to return on the terms specified by the IOC – neutral appearance, no “active support” of the war – reject. Work is in progress on a joint statement that will be announced afterwards.
Klitschko in the FAZ interview
Meanwhile, Ukraine has made it clear that it could boycott the Paris Olympics if Russian and Belarusian athletes participate. Former boxing world champion Wladimir Klitschko, brother of Kiev mayor Vitaly Klitschko, told the FAZ that he would “absolutely” consider a boycott in that case. “I will do everything so that other countries do the same. Some have already thought about it,” said Klitschko. With his attitude, Thomas Bach represented “the aggressor”.
In view of the criticism voiced by Bach after the conference that governments are not entitled to decide whether to participate in the Olympic Games, Klitschko said: “Yes, he is President of the IOC. But with all due respect, you have to leave the church in the village.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Funke media group that the “hypocrisy of the IOC President and the Committee is just pathetic. A country that commits aggression – condemned by a large majority of the UN General Assembly – loses the right to compete in the Olympic Games. This also applies to all his athletes.” A boycott of the Paris Games is one of several options if Russian and Belarusian athletes take part.
