The IOC reopens to Belarus, but confirms sanctions against Moscow

The IOC Executive, meeting in Lausanne, lifted the ban on Belarusian athletes and national teams from international activity since the end of February 2022, i.e. since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine (if not in a neutral form). Among the reasons for the decision, “the fundamental right of athletes to access sport and compete free from political interference or government pressure”, confirmed by the Executive itself last September and reaffirmed at the Olympic Summit in December. However, the situation regarding Russia and its Olympic Committee does not change. “Although the ROC has had constructive exchanges with the IOC regarding his suspension, it remains suspended pending the IOC Legal Affairs Committee continuing to review the matter,” it was explained. The Executive also “noted with concern the recent information that led WADA to launch an investigation into the Russian anti-doping system”. The reference is to further recent journalistic revelations regarding doping practices that are still in existence in Moscow.

Russia disappointed

—

“We are disappointed – said the Russian Minister of Sports and President of the ROC, Mikhail Degtyarev – but we will continue to work for the full reinstatement of our athletes. We expected that the IOC Commission would be able to reach a verdict on our case, without further postponements. We have long provided a complete set of documents demonstrating the elimination of all legal reasons for a further ban. We await feedback and then we will decide on the next steps”. It remains the responsibility of the individual international federations to decide whether to readmit Russian and Belarusian athletes onto the international scene. World Athletics, for example, confirmed the sanctions yesterday, awaiting “tangible movements towards peace negotiations. We hope they will happen soon, but until then we will not change our decisions”.

no crosses

—

In the meantime, the Executive, as explained by President Kirsty Coventry during a press conference at the conclusion of the works, with the aim of not further exaggerating its programmes, has established that no discipline that does not have to do with snow or ice will enter the panorama of the Winter Games. It means that, despite attempts and expectations, cross-country running (athletics) and cross-country (cycling) will not be included in the calendar of the 2030 French Alps edition. Indeed, it is likely that the Brisbane 2032 Summer Games will suffer heavy cuts, going from the 32 sports planned for Los Angeles 2028, to 26. More will be known with the next Executive, in June. Meanwhile, the assignment of the 2030 Youth Games, expected in June, has been suspended while waiting to understand what the precise direction of this event should be. Tokyo (Japan), Shanghai (China), Montreal (Canada) and Orlando (United States) will host the 2028 qualifiers for the Los Angeles Olympics in 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, freestyle BMX, sport climbing, flag football and skateboarding.

Malagò and Ferriani

—

In general, those for the Californian Games will begin this summer like those for the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Winter Youth Games. In an Italian key, also noteworthy is the inclusion of Giovanni Malagò and Ivo Ferriani (who will become an honorary member of the IOC) among the members of the new “Olympic Games Delivery” working group led by the Frenchman Tony Estanguet, a group that aims to “maximize the overall value of the Games for the athletes, the stakeholders, the organizing committees and the IOC itself.”