The IOC decision on a possible admission of Russian athletes to the 2024 Olympics outraged Ukraine. The country’s sports minister reiterated a boycott threat.
Ukraine is threatening to boycott the Summer Games in Paris if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete in the 2024 Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the umbrella organizations of international sport have been informed of this decision, said the Ukrainian Minister of Sport, Vadym Gutzajt. Ukraine responded to the IOC’s announcement that it was looking for possible ways for athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to the international sports arena with renewed boycott threats.
“There can be no agreements with representatives of terrorist countries,” stressed Gutzajt. As long as there is war in Ukraine, his country will continue to advocate sanctions against Russia and Belarus. Athletes from these countries are also not allowed to compete under a neutral flag. “I hope that all federations, athletes and the whole civilized world have paid close attention and that we don’t have to resort to this extreme measure,” warned Gutzajt with a view to an Olympic boycott.
IOC statement causes criticism
The IOC leadership had previously called on the international federations to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in competitions and to qualify for the Olympics under certain conditions. The condition is that these athletes respect the Olympic Charter and the existing sanctions because of the Ukraine war, said the IOC. In addition, the anti-doping rules must be observed.
The IOC relied on the fact that a “large majority of participants” in consultations with associations and athlete representatives had spoken out in favor of such a step. The German Olympic Sports Confederation can only imagine the re-admission of athletes from Russia and Belarus “under strict conditions”. For Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), on the other hand, the IOC initiative is “completely the wrong way,” as she put it.