“No athlete should be prevented from participating in competitions just because of his passport” – this was the maxim issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after a meeting of its executive on Wednesday. Under certain conditions, this should also apply to athletes from Russia and Belarus who have been banned due to the war in Ukraine. The “overwhelming majority” of the participants in consultation meetings spoke out in favor of admission under “strict conditions” last week. The IOC has developed and presented a concept for reintegration, for which there should be broad support from IOC members, athletes’ representatives, international sports federations and national Olympic committees.
Accordingly, athletes from Russia and Belarus are allowed to start as neutral athletes if they show a “clear commitment” to the Olympic Charter. However, “only those who have not violated the IOC’s peacekeeping mission by actively supporting the war in Ukraine” are allowed to participate. The flag, anthem, colors or other distinctive signs of Russia or Belarus should remain banned, and no invitation or accreditation should be given to government or state officials of either country.
Shortly after the IOC’s announcement, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) opened the door to athletes from Russia and Belarus. Despite the invasion of Ukraine, they should be given the opportunity to take part in this year’s Asian Games, the OCA said on Thursday. So far, Belarusians and Russians have competed in continental championships in Europe.
High jumper Mahuchich: “Terrorist state”
On the other hand, there was criticism of the IOC from Ukraine: This decision “sends the message to the world that the IOC approves of the brutal war and the invasion of Russia in Ukraine,” said Ukrainian Athletes and Global Athletes in a joint statement: “The IOC allows the Games to be used as a sporting event to normalize, legitimize and distract from war.” The organizations called for the suspensions to be maintained “until Russia completely withdraws from Ukraine.”
High jumper Jaroslawa Mahutschich won the European Championships in Munich in August 2022
“Ukrainian athletes and Ukrainian athletes will do everything to prevent Belarusian and Russian athletes from competing internationally,” European high jump champion Jaroslava Mahuchich told DW, “because Russia is a terrorist state.” The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had already energetically called for the exclusion of Russian athletes from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in December in exchange with IOC President Thomas Bach and on Tuesday in conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. In its statement on Wednesday, the IOC made a firm reference to supporting Ukraine, but at the same time stated that it was looking for a “way” for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be able to participate in the Paris 2024 games.
There was also criticism from Germany: the former saber fencer Max Hartung commented on Twitter about the IOC decision, which he called “wrong”. “How are Ukrainian athletes supposed to compete peacefully against Russian ones while their families at home are being attacked with rockets by Putin’s regime?” he asked.
Hartung was chairman of the athletes’ commission in the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) when he was active and is the founding president of the athletes’ representation, Athleten Deutschland eV
Invaded shortly after the Winter Games
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, just three days after the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, also violating the Olympic truce that will last until the end of the Paralympic Games. The IOC then recommended that the international federations exclude the athletes from Russia and Belarus. International sporting events should also be withdrawn from both countries.
In 2014, shortly after the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia annexed Crimea, which is part of Ukraine.
asz/sn (SID, dpa)