Mainz (dpa) – DOSB boss Thomas Weikert recognized the solidarity of sport in his reaction to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
At the same time, he called for the currently suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes to return. “We are bridge builders in sport. Actually, we are doing exactly the opposite at the moment: we exclude athletes,” said the President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation late on Saturday evening in ZDF’s “Aktuelle Sportstudio”.
“I think officials, officials, athletes have pulled together this time: There is only one unanimous opinion,” said Weikert, but cautioned: “It may be the wrong people. I also know Russian athletes, I can do that say: It’s sure to hit the wrong people.”
Sport has now done “what is in our power: protest and sanction”. Weikert spoke out in favor of the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes who were suspended from international sporting events. “At the moment I’m a bit lacking in imagination as to how this can be done and when that will be the case. But in any case: there has to be a return at some point,” said the 60-year-old.
“Whether that’s in May or only in May 2023, I have no idea. It would be hoped that the war would end as soon as possible, and then you have to talk about it. Sport is connecting and not dividing,” said the President of the German umbrella organization.
Weikert found that a rethink had already begun in the allocation of international sporting events. One must now think about what to do in this regard in the future. “The IOC has now swung in a bit, the next Olympic Games will take place in democratic countries.” Human rights and sustainability would have to be put to the test. Weikert: “I think there will be a rethink.”