Ukraine condemns IOC’s decision to allow Russians and Belarusians to participate in 2024 Olympics - Ministry of Youth and Sports
The decision of the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete at the 2024 Olympics in neutral status is irresponsible.
According to Censor.NET, this was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the statement of the acting Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Matvii Bidnyi.
"Just the other day, the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, announced that the IOC will make the relevant decision only in March next year," the statement reads.
Bidnyi said that Ukraine, for its part, explained to international partners and the Olympic Committee that Russian athletes have the same passports as the occupiers who are killing Ukrainians. This means that they bear part of the responsibility for the deaths of Ukrainians.
"In times of war, you cannot hide behind the white flag of 'neutrality'. Neutrality at a time when the bloodiest war since the Second World War is going on in Europe and one nation is trying to destroy another means irresponsibility and tacit consent to the killers," the acting minister added.
Bidnyi said that Ukraine strongly condemns the irresponsible decision of the members of the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board. He said that the only state that has violated the Olympic truce three times is the Russian Federation. The Russian Federation is also trying to organize an alternative to the Olympics and threatens to come to the sporting event in tanks.
"What else does Russia have to do - who else does Russia have to kill - for the International Olympic Committee to finally take off its rose-colored glasses on the terrorist country?" the statement reads.
Bidnyi also said that Ukraine will later decide on the country's participation in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games after consulting with the Ukrainian sports community and the country's top political leadership.
