The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, has defended the decision to let some Russian and Belarusian athletes participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics as neutrals, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
IOC says no athlete should be prevented from competing because of their passport
Bach said the IOC had found a “middle ground” between banning and accepting the athletes from Russia and Belarus, who are both allies of Ukraine’s aggressor. He said the IOC had consulted with various stakeholders, including the Ukrainian Olympic Committee, and had taken into account the political and humanitarian situation in the region.
He said the IOC’s decision was based on the principle of “individual justice”, which means that no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport. He said the IOC had imposed strict conditions of neutrality on the eligible athletes, who must not have actively supported the war or be contracted to the military or state security agencies.
He also said the IOC had suspended the National Olympic Committees of Russia and Belarus, and that they would play no role in the Games. He said the IOC would monitor the situation closely and would not hesitate to take further action if necessary.
Olympic federations and national committees back IOC’s decision
The IOC’s decision was supported by the Olympic sports federations and the national Olympic committees, who said they wanted to bring clarity to the qualification process and the participation of the athletes. They said they had the responsibility to protect the rights and interests of the athletes, who had competed as neutrals in the qualification events without incident.
They said they would follow the IOC’s guidelines and criteria to assess and enforce the neutral status of the individual athletes, and that they would not change the qualification systems or quota places to accommodate them. They said they would also respect the Olympic Charter and the values of Olympism, which promote peace and solidarity among nations.
Ukrainian athletes and officials express disappointment and anger
The IOC’s decision was met with disappointment and anger by the Ukrainian athletes and officials, who had called for a complete ban on the Russian and Belarusian athletes. They said the IOC’s decision was a betrayal of the Olympic ideals and a disrespect to the victims of the war.
They said the IOC had ignored the evidence of the involvement of the Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in the war, and that they had violated the rules and ethics of the Olympic movement. They said the IOC had also failed to consider the impact of the decision on the morale and security of the Ukrainian athletes and the public.
They said the IOC had given a green light to the aggressor and had legitimized its actions. They said the IOC had also sent a wrong message to the world, that sports and politics can be separated, and that human rights and international law can be ignored.
Paris 2024 Olympics to take place amid heightened tensions and security concerns
The 2024 Paris Olympics are set to take place amid heightened tensions and security concerns, as the war in Ukraine continues to escalate and threaten the stability of Europe. The war, which started in February 2022, has claimed more than 10,000 lives and displaced more than 2 million people.
The war has also sparked a diplomatic and economic crisis, as the international community has imposed sanctions and condemned the actions of Russia and Belarus. The war has also affected the sports world, as several events and competitions have been cancelled, postponed, or relocated due to the conflict.
The IOC has said it hopes the Olympics will be a platform for dialogue and cooperation, and that it will contribute to the peaceful resolution of the conflict. The IOC has also said it will provide humanitarian assistance and support to the affected populations, especially the athletes and their families.
