Lawmakers ask European Union countries to pressure IOC on Russia ban

17.02.2023 - 17:43 cbc.ca

European Union lawmakers have condemned the International Olympic Committee's decision to set out a path for some athletes from Russia and Belarus to try to qualify for the 2024 Paris Games.

In a resolution adopted Thursday by 444 votes in favour, 26 against and 37 abstentions, EU legislators said allowing them to compete under a neutral flag "runs counter to those countries' multifaceted isolation and will be used by both regimes for propaganda purposes." The IOC has argued that it would be discriminatory to exclude Russia and ally Belarus from sports ahead of the Paris Olympics.

With qualifying in many sports already underway, the IOC wants athletes from those countries to compete in a neutral capacity without national symbols.

In its resolution marking one year of the war, the EU Parliament urged the 27 EU countries and the international community to pressure the IOC to reverse its decision, "which is an embarrassment to the international world of sport." Lawmakers also asked member states to seriously consider sending fighter jets to Ukraine and said Russian assets frozen by the EU should be used to rebuild Ukraine.

Sporting athletics on Paris Olympics Paris Games Russia Ukraine Moscow Eu Belarus

A group of 42 retired Canadian Olympians have urged the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) to reverse its support for Russian and Belarusian participation at next year's Paris Games, unless Russia withdraws from Ukraine.

Eddie Howe denies feeling ‘pressure’ after Amanda Staveley’s bullish Newcastle title claims

NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe said on Friday that any talk of Newcastle United winning the Premier League and the Champions League are long-term goals, and he does not feel any added pressure as a result of recent, very public title predictions of title successes by Amanda Staveley.

Russia and Belarus boxers should compete, says International Boxing Association chief

MEXICO CITY: Russia and Belarus athletes should be able to compete under their flag, said International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlev on Friday. The IBA lifted a ban on Russian and Belarusian boxers last October, against the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) guidance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year.

Paris Olympics sports bodies seek IOC clarity on Russia

LAUSANNE, Switzerland: Ongoing uncertainty about letting Russian athletes try to qualify for the Paris Olympics affects “less than half” of its 32 sports, the umbrella group of Summer Games governing bodies said on Friday. Those sports have an urgent need for more clarity from the International Olympic Committee with qualification events pending less than 17 months before the opening ceremony in Paris. Most sports bodies are still imposing a year-old ban on Russia and its military ally Belarus because of their war in Ukraine — a ban recommended by the IOC citing the security of athletes before shifting its position as Paris nears.

Paris Olympics sports governing bodies seek IOC clarity on Russian matter

Ongoing uncertainty about letting Russian athletes try to qualify for the Paris Olympics affects "less than half" of its 32 sports, the umbrella group of Summer Games governing bodies said on Friday.

German Olympic committee says time not right to readmit Russians

MUNICH, Germany: Germany’s National Olympic Committee is opposed to letting Russian and Belarusian athletes compete internationally, the body’s chief executive said on its web site on Tuesday. “Now is not the right time to allow athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport to compete in international competitions again,” Torsten Burmester said in an interview conducted just after the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “The acts of war have intensified in recent weeks, especially the attacks on the civilian population.” The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is led by a German, Thomas Bach, has said it is exploring a “pathway” to allow Russian and Belarusian competitors to take part in the Paris Games, under a neutral flag.