The IOC’s recommendations to international sports federations and competition organizers state that athletes can only return to competition as individual representatives and not as team members.
Thomas Bach about Russian and Belarusian athletes in the international circuit
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.
The IOC Board confirms that these recommendations do not apply to the athletes’ participation in the next two Olympic Games, and a decision on this issue has not yet been made.
CONTEXT:
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. Putin claimed that NATO was going to use Ukraine as a springboard for aggression against Russia, although there was no evidence for these claims.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Belarus’ support for military operations, the IOC advised all international sports federations and organizers of sports events in February 2022 not to invite or allow athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus to participate in international competitions.
In January 2023, the IOC announced the need to find out the possibilities and ways for Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Western governments and sports organizations are actively opposed to the return of athletes from Russia and Belarus, but in many other parts of the world, the IOC’s intentions to return athletes from the aggressor countries to competitions have not caused a backlash.
Highlight the text and press Ctrl+Enterto send the text fragment to be corrected to the editor!
Highlight the text and press on Report a bug buttons to send the text fragment to be corrected to the editor!
