“It is regrettable to see that some governments do not want to respect the majority in the Olympic movement, nor the autonomy of sport,” Bach told reporters after the IOC board meeting. “It is unfortunate that these governments are not addressing the issue of double standards.”
He added that various levels of the Olympic movement were “very concerned about this politicization of sport”.
The IOC’s recommendations to international sports federations and competition organizers issued on Tuesday said that athletes can only return to competition as individual representatives and not as members of teams.
Athletes and service personnel who actively support Russia’s military operations in Ukraine may not participate in the competition. Also, athletes and representatives of service personnel who are employees of the power structures of Russia or Belarus may not compete.
Athletes must also comply with the anti-doping rules of international federations.
The recommendations of the IOC still exclude the holding of international sports competitions in Russia and Belarus, and the flags, anthems and national symbols of these countries must not be displayed during the competition. Federations are also recommended not to invite representatives of these countries to international competitions.
