Two days after the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday showed his “unshakable solidarity” with Ukrainian athletes, while calling for the unity of the “whole world” in a peaceful competition and for an Olympic Games that serves as a “catalyst for dialogue” and “set an example”.
“The Olympic Games cannot avoid wars and conflicts. Nor can they address all of our world’s political and social challenges. This is the realm of politics. But the Olympics“, the agency declared in a statement, “can serve as an example for a world where everyone respects the same rules and others. They can inspire us to solve problems, building bridges that lead to a better understanding between people. They can open the door to dialogue and peacebuilding in a way that exclusion and division cannot.”
This statement reached an international sports scene that was divided before the possibility, proposed by the IOC, that the Russians and Belarusians would be readmitted in international competitions as neutral athletes, not as representatives of their countries.
Although most sports institutions support the position of the IOC, many governments, especially European ones, have shown their reservations and asked for clarification of what this condition of neutrality means. Ukraine has threatened to boycott the 2024 Paris Games.
“February 24, 2023 marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine with the support of Belarus: a year of brutal war, human suffering, killing and destruction.“said the IOC statement. “We are deeply sorry for the Ukrainian people, whose pain and suffering is beyond imagination. On this tragic anniversary, the Olympic Movement joins the calls for peace and stands ready to make its modest contribution to any peace-building effort.”
“The IOC condemned this senseless war in the strongest terms since the day of the invasion. With no end to fighting after year of bloodshed, IOC reiterates condemnation of war in Ukraine, which constituted a flagrant violation of the Olympic Truce in force at the time, and the Olympic Charter. For this reason,” he added, “the IOC has allowed the Russian and Belarusian states and governments, which are solely responsible for this war, in an unprecedented way: no international sports events are organized in Russia and Belarus; no flag, anthem or other national symbols are displayed (at sports competitions); and no government or state official is recognized for any international sporting event.”
After emphasizing his “unwavering solidarity with Ukrainian athletes, who face indescribable hardships every day”, and recalling that more than 3,000 of them have benefited from the solidarity funds distributed by the IOC with the aim of ensuring that there is in the coming Olympic. The games are “a strong Ukrainian team”, the Committee indicates that “it remains committed to the mission of worldwide unity in a peaceful competition”.
“At the Olympic Games, athletes from 206 different National Olympic Committees live in peace in the Olympic Village. Peace-building efforts require dialogue. A competition among athletes that respects the Olympic Charter can serve as a catalyst for dialogue, which is always a first step to achieve peace”, defending the world’s main sports body.
“United in this Olympic spirit, on this painful first anniversary, the entire Olympic Movement repeats the appeal we made a year ago to the world’s political leaders: give peace a chance,” the statement concluded.
Source: La Verdad
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