The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommends that sports federations allow the youth teams of the aggressor countries Russia and Belarus and representatives of individual sports to return to competitions with their country’s symbols, the IOC announced on Thursday
The IOC already last year at the Paris Olympic Games allowed the athletes of both aggressor countries to obtain the status of neutral athletes and compete without the symbols of their country under a neutral flag, as well as only in individual disciplines.
“Athletes have the fundamental right to access sport worldwide and to compete without political interference or pressure from government bodies,” the IOC said in a statement, recommending that young athletes and teams be allowed to return to international competition with their country’s symbols.
Despite the IOC recommendation, the sports federations have the final say, and the recommendations apply only to youth teams, maintaining the previous restrictions for all adult teams and representatives of individual sports.
The IOC statement indicates that the young athletes of Russia and Belarus could compete in next year’s Youth Olympic Games, but if the IOC maintains the disqualification of the Russian Olympic Committee, then the athletes will only be able to participate in a neutral status.
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