Olympics head rejects Zelenskiy call to ban Russian athletes from Paris Games

13.02.2023 - 20:09 theguardian.com

The row over Russian athletes’ possible participation in the Olympic Games has intensified after the head of the International Olympic Committee said that while he shared the “grief and human suffering” of Ukrainian athletes, national governments should not decide who takes part in international sporting events.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has repeatedly demanded that Russian and Belarusian athletes be barred from the 2024 Olympic Games and on Friday described their potential presence in Paris as a “manifestation of violence”.

Speaking at the World Ski Championships in France, Thomas Bach said Ukraine’s athletes “know how much we share their grief, their human suffering and all the effort we’re taking to help them” after Russia’s invasion almost 12 months ago.

However, he added: “It is not up to governments to decide who can take part in which sports competitions, because this would be the end of international sports competitions and world championships and the Olympic Games as we know it.” The Ukrainian government has reacted furiously to the IOC’s announcement last month that it was exploring a “pathway” that might allow Russian and Belarusian competitors to take part in the Paris Games under a neutral flag.

Sporting rowing athletics call Volodymyr Zelenskiy Russia France Ukraine Moscow Belarus Paris county Thomas

Sport Ireland has announced an increase of €4m of investment provided by the Government for 2023, as Irish athletes focus on Olympic and Paralympic qualification for Paris 2024, while Ciarán Ward has been appointed as Head of High Performance Coaching.

Olympic Games ‘can build bridges’ with Russian athletes in Paris, insists IOC

The International Olympic Committee says the Olympic Games can “set an example” to the world on unity and building bridges as it defends plans to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to qualify for Paris 2024.

UK, 30 others vow support for ban on Russian, Belarusian athletes

LONDON :More than 30 countries, including the United States, Britain and France, on Monday pledged their support for banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in international sporting events, a British government statement said.

European Union lawmakers condemn IOC's decision to set path for Russian athletes to compete in Paris games

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Russian Athletes Must Denounce War To Compete At Olympics: Kyiv Mayor Klitschko

Russian athletes should publicly denounce the war if they are to be allowed to participate in the 2024 Olympics, Kyiv mayor and former world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko told AFP Monday. "Russian and Belarusian athletes can't participate in the Olympic Games in Paris if they don't say 'no' to war," Klitschko said. "If they publicly express against this war, they can (participate). But they're afraid," the former heavyweight boxer said. Russia and its ally Belarus, which allowed its territory to be used as a launchpad when Moscow began its invasion of Ukraine last February, have been sidelined from most Olympic sports since the war began.