Preparation for the Olympic Games has rarely been more difficult than that of the Ukrainian athletes:
“Many athletes cannot train in Ukraine – for example in many water sports, because the Russians destroyed many swimming pools. I don’t know why they don’t like swimming pools. But now the athletes have to train abroad, for example in Croatia,” explained Andrey Chesnokov, Deputy Minister of Sports of Ukraine, in a sports talk on the sidelines of the “Play the Game” sports conference.
“Some can stay in Ukraine and we want them to train in Ukraine because it is of course cheaper,” said the minister, who added: “It is of course a threat to security, but these concerns and threats apply to everyone People in Ukraine. There are sports venues in the West that – you can’t say they are safe, because there are no safe places in Ukraine.”
Despite the more than 400 dead athletes, the many destroyed sports facilities and the ongoing attacks, the sporting nation of Ukraine wants to go to the Olympic Games prepared. Despite all obstacles.
“I would call this the heroism and resilience of our athletes. They really want to do what Ukrainian society, including those who defend us, expect from them. They want the Ukrainian flag to be raised after their victories, they want that the Ukrainian anthem will be played in international sports arenas.”
Participation still open – “We don’t like the word boycott”
It is not even clear whether the Ukrainian athletes will even compete in Paris. “We don’t like the word boycott,” said Chesnokov when asked about a possible refusal to participate.
“The Ukrainian sports community has not yet decided whether we will take part in the Olympic Games. We don’t have a deadline either,” explained the deputy sports minister, who did not shy away from criticizing the International Olympic Committee:
“We believe that the IOC Executive Committee’s decision is irresponsible. Because they know full well that the ‘unprecedented conditions’, as the IOC itself put it in 2022, have not changed – if anything, they have gotten worse.” The decision about one’s own participation is still open, but clear conditions have already been set:
“We don’t take part in events where Russian and Belarusian athletes compete under their own flag, like boxing. We’re looking at other options.”
Chesnokov: “Heavy discussion” about “lack of respect”
Participation is also a question of respect, explained Chesnokov. Although they want to represent their own nation in Paris, the focus should not shift as a result:
“Yes, we are doing our best to ensure that our athletes are prepared to take part in the Olympic Games. 50 have qualified so far. But at the same time, 424 athletes and coaches have been killed in this war. There is a heated debate about whether we are the one Those who were killed should not show a lack of respect if our athletes just go to the Olympics and maybe win a few medals.”
Sport and war cannot easily be separated: “Maybe it’s emotional, but this debate takes place within Ukrainian society and sports community. Because many Ukrainian athletes serve in the army.”
Criticism of the IOC: “We want more clarity”
Since the beginning of the war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has been calling for Russia to be excluded from the games. “Representatives of a terrorist state” have “no place” at the Olympics.
As things stand, the IOC admits Russians and Belarusians as neutral athletes. Chesnokov calls for a closer examination of the participants:
“We also want more clarity from the IOC. There are conditions for participation in the Olympic Games. But we don’t see the transparency that those who qualify for Russia and Belarus will be checked again.
The aim is to prevent the participating athletes from indirectly supporting the Russian military. There is a lack of “clear, transparent mechanisms” for this, says Chesnokov:
“And that’s why we haven’t made a decision about the Olympics yet. It’s still not clear what the athletes should and shouldn’t wear. When they should and shouldn’t speak during the Olympics. How they are disqualified “What is the mechanism? Who checks it? How quickly can they be disqualified?”
The IOC is demanding verifiable conditions to guarantee transparency: “The NOC of Ukraine has already requested the IOC that some Ukrainian representatives or someone trusted by the Ukrainian side can at least provide evidence if an athlete supports the war against Ukraine and this violates the conditions for participation in the Olympic Games. Currently there is no clarity, no answers, so how should we trust that?”
“Violate the Olympia peace mission”
“There are no checks and balances, no control,” concluded Chesnokov. “And if such guys are allowed to compete as so-called neutral athletes, then that violates the Olympic Charter and the Olympic peace mission.”
The IOC, meanwhile, argues that it cannot simply exclude all Russian athletes simply because of their passports. A UN special report indicated that this would constitute a case of discrimination.
Chesnokov “disappointed” by DOSB
Chesnokov was also disappointed by the German Olympic Sports Confederation. The admission of athletes from Russia and Belarus to the 2024 Olympic Games is welcomed because of the “clarity that now prevails,” it said in a statement at the beginning of December.
“Personally, I’m disappointed,” reacted the sports politician. “But at least there were discussions. I don’t want to say that this is a weakness of democracy, each country made its own decision. But if we look at the situation worldwide, you are right. The majority is on the side beaten by Thomas Bach, for different reasons.”
IOC “should disappoint everyone”
Chesnokov no longer believes in drastic changes within the IOC. “The IOC is a closed club. You can’t change much there. You can also see this in the developments at the last general assembly, that it was suggested that Thomas Bach could serve another term, which ruined all term limit reforms. And Bach has didn’t reject that. He didn’t reject that. We saw that.
The deputy sports minister did not hide his disappointment with the latest developments: “We respect the IOC, we respect the important role in the development of the Olympic movement because we share these values.
The decisions would not contribute to the spread of Olympic values, Chesnokov concluded: “When we see this lack of transparency, when we see something that is a gross violation of the principle of integrity, when we see that the IOC is trying to stand up for integrity worldwide, But if you don’t stick to it yourself, then we are sad and disappointed. And that should disappoint everyone who shares the principles of the Olympic Charter.”