In view of the Russian war of aggression, athletes from Russia “have no place” in the Olympic Games and international competitions, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“We continue our diplomatic marathon to prevent the Kremlin from using world sport and the Olympic movement for its propaganda,” Zelenskyy said in his daily video address. “Representatives of a terrorist state” should not be admitted to the Olympic Games or any other international competition.
Ukraine has already sent relevant letters to the companies that support the International Olympic Committee IOC the most, Zelenskyy said. “These are large international companies that have every interest in their reputation and support not being used to promote war.”
The IOC around President Thomas Bach recently announced that it wanted to open up ways for athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to the international sports stage despite the war in Ukraine. This could also open the way for these athletes to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, albeit only under a neutral flag. Ukraine had sharply criticized this and threatened to boycott the summer games.