July 13, (THEWILL) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC), is facing a challenging situation regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the upcoming Paris Olympics, as Russia and Ukraine hold irreconcilable positions on the matter.
Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last year, Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from international sports events. In March, the IOC issued initial recommendations for their return, but the latest update reveals the persisting discord. The Russian side urges the IOC to overlook the ongoing war, while the Ukrainian side advocates for the complete isolation of individuals with Russian and Belarusian passports.
While the official invitations for the Paris Games will be extended to other countries later this month, the Olympic committees of Russia and Belarus will not receive immediate invitations. The final decision on their participation will be made at a later date, solely at the discretion of the IOC, without being influenced by the results of previous qualification competitions. In the interim, Russian and Belarusian athletes have been permitted to compete as neutrals at the Hangzhou Asian Games, facilitating their chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
The IOC expressed disappointment with negative reactions from some European governments regarding its stance on the involvement of Russian and Belarusian athletes. The organisation highlighted the lack of comments from these governments concerning athletes from other countries entangled in numerous wars, armed conflicts, and crises globally.
Additionally, the IOC regretted the absence of Ukrainian athletes from the judo and taekwondo world championships due to the participation of Russian and Belarusian competitors. It queried: “It is hard to understand why the Ukrainian government is depriving its own athletes of their chance to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and to make the Ukrainian people proud.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
