The IOC “vehemently” rejects Putin’s accusations of discrimination

He International Olympic Committee (IOC) this Friday firmly denied the accusations of “ethnic discrimination” launched the previous day by the Russian president, Vladimir Putinon restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes in Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“We strongly reject accusations that these measures constitute ‘ethnic discrimination,'” an IOC spokesman said.

Participation in the Games is “in any way a human right” and “the strict conditions established by the IOC in its recommendations to international federations for the participation (under a neutral flag) of athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports in competitions at international events is in accordance with the Olympic Charter,” he said, adding that they appeared as a reaction to the “violation” of both this charter by Moscow and Minsk.

In a sports speech on Thursday, Vladimir Putin accused the IOC of “ethnic discrimination.” “Thanks to some leaders of the current International Olympic Committee, we have learned that (…) the Games themselves can be used as an instrument of political pressure against non-political people and, de facto, (as) a crude instrument of racist, ethnic discrimination,” the Russian president said.

For these IOC officials, “an invitation to the Games is not an unconditional right for the best athletes, but a kind of privilege,” he continued.

On October 12, the Russian National Olympic Committee (NOC) was suspended with “immediate effect” by the IOC for placing several organizations from the occupied Ukrainian regions under its authority.

In general, although Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from participating in all international competitions following the start of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, their participation in the 2024 Olympics is causing a stir in the sports world. .

In March 2023, the IOC recommended that they return to international competitions outside the Olympic Games, as long as they competed under a neutral flag, in an individual capacity, and did not “actively support the war in Ukraine.” He has not yet made a decision on the Games.

UkraineFor its part, it has threatened to boycott the Paris Olympics if Russians and Belarusians are allowed to participate.

Russia It was excluded from world sport a few years before the offensive in Ukraine due to the organization of a state doping system for its athletes.

Belarus It is also subject to sanctions because this unconditional ally of Russia has lent its territory to the Russian army to invade Ukraine in early 2022.