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

14.02.2023 - 07:19 sports.ndtv.com

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.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a boycott of the 2024 Paris Olympics if Russian athletes are allowed to take part.

Klitschko appealed to athletes to "tell your government to stop this senseless war." Kyiv has reacted furiously to the International Olympic Committee's announcement last month that it was exploring a "pathway" to allow Russian and Belarusian competitors to take part in the Paris Games, under a neutral flag.

Other sports Sporting athletics Olympic Games Thomas Bach Volodymyr Zelensky Vitali Klitschko Paris Games Russia Ukraine Moscow Belarus Poland Paris

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.

War, anger cloud Ukrainian athletes' path to Paris Olympics

Ukrainian diver Stanislav Oliferchyk proudly bears the name of his late grandfather, who died in brutalized Mariupol. Russia's troops turned the Ukrainian port city into a killing zone in the process of capturing it. The elder Stanislav could no longer get the cancer treatment he needed in the ruins, his grandson says. He was 74 when he died last October.

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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.

Thirty countries challenge IOC over 'neutral' Russian athletes

IOC for "clarification" on Monday over how Russian and Belarusian athletes would be able to compete as neutral athletes in the Paris 2024 Olympics.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.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said it is exploring a "pathway" to allow Russian and Belarusian competitors to take part in the Paris Games, under a neutral flag -- sparking fury from Ukraine.But in a joint letter seen by AFP, the countries expressed concern particularly given the "strong links and affiliations between Russian athletes and the Russian military".

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

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