Ukraine on mission to ban Russia from Olympics, IOC says sanctions stand

01.02.2023 - 03:01 arabnews.com

KYIV: Ukraine hopes to secure widespread international support for banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Paris Olympics in 2024 due to Moscow’s invasion, the sports minister said on Tuesday.

Vadym Huttsait, 51, a former Olympic fencing champion, told Reuters the idea of allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals was unacceptable. “It is impossible for us at a time when the full-scale war is going on, when our athletes, our soldiers are defending our homeland,” he said in his Kyiv office, beside a wall with portraits of athletes killed in the war.

Last week the International Olympic Committee said it was open to including Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals at the Games and opened a door to them competing in qualifiers, prompting an international campaign by Kyiv to keep them out.

Moscow said on Tuesday it would welcome any IOC moves to allow its athletes to compete in the Olympics. But hours later the IOC said it was standing by sanctions imposed against the countries over Russia’s invasion.

Athletes Atalanta on Paris Olympics Volodymyr Zelensky Britain Russia Ukraine Italy Moscow Belarus

The governments of more than 30 nations released a letter Monday calling on the IOC to clarify the definition of “neutrality” as it seeks a way to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes back into international sports and, ultimately, next year’s Paris Olympics.

IBA demand that boycotted world championships must be 2024 Olympic qualifiers

The International Boxing Association say that IOC's qualifying process for boxing at next year's Olympic Games is unacceptable and must recognise a world championships that many countries, including Ireland, are boycotting.

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

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Lawmakers ask European Union countries to pressure IOC on Russia ban

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.

Russia's gymnastics, wrestling federations invited to Asian Games - officials

GENEVA : Russia's gymnastics and wrestling federations said on Tuesday they had been invited to take part in this year's Asian Games, a move that could potentially pave the way for their athletes to qualify for next year's Paris Olympics.

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.