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.
