The Executive of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) On Tuesday, it recommended that international federations and organizers of sports competitions allow athletes “with Russian and Belarusian passports” to participate in them “individually and as neutrals”.
On the other hand, it is not recommended to accept the teams of these two countries, added the president of the IOC, the German. Thomas Bachwho read an institutional declaration after the Executive meeting at Lausanne (Switzerland).
The leader emphasized that in any case there will be no participation in paris games of Russians and Belarusians.
Going into those Games, and also the winter Games at Milan-Cortina in 2026the Olympic committee will make a decision “in due course, at its own discretion and without being bound by previous results of Olympic qualifying competitions.”
Among the conditions for allowing the return to competitions of “athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports”, a circumlocution used by the IOC since last December to refer to athletes from those countries, Bach noted that they cannot “actively support war”, nor be members of their countries’ military or security agencies.
The same requirements must be met by all members of the athletic support staff, such as coaches or technicians.
The ban on organizing competitions on the territory of Russia or Belarus remains in force.
The condition of neutrality imposed by the IOC on individual athletes implies the obligation to compete without the official symbols (flag, anthem, kit…) of the invading country of Ukraine and its ally.
Bach recalled that “the Olympic Summit that met in December asked the IOC to explore a path for the return as neutral individuals” of the Russians and Belarusians.
The Olympic Summit is a consultative forum periodically convened by the IOC itself, with the majority of participants from the organization itself.
“The Executive studied this request today,” the president added, reiterating the Olympic Movement’s call for peace, the condemnations of the aggression in Ukraine, the commitment to the athletes of this country and “the firm rejection of any political interference in participating in competitions.
IOC consultations
From its consultations over the past four months, the IOC got the impression that the “majority” of the sport wanted “an open way” for Russian and Belarusian participation.
“We have to fulfill our mission and the Olympic Charter talks about the autonomy of sport,” said Bach.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus and the teams representing their countries have not participated in international competitions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with some exceptions such as the professional tennis circuit.
The boxing and fencing federations – both led by Russians – recently approved the readmission of athletes from both countries.
At the women’s world boxing championship held last week, Russia won three medals and Belarus one. About a dozen countries, including Ukraine, the United States and Great Britain, boycotted the competition.
On fencing, the measure will take effect at the end of April. More than 300 fencers sent a letter to the IOC and the federation asking them to withdraw.
Source: La Verdad
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