Kyiv calls the International Olympic Committee a 'promoter of war'

KYIV: Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak on Monday (Jan 30) called the International Olympic Committee (IOC) a "promoter of war", after the sports body said it was considering ways for Russian athletes to compete in next year's Olympic Games in Paris.

"(The) IOC is a promoter of war, murder and destruction. The IOC watches with pleasure Russia destroying Ukraine and then offers Russia a platform to promote genocide and encourages their further killings," Podolyak said on Twitter.

"Obviously, Russian money that buys Olympic hypocrisy doesn't have a smell of Ukrainian blood. Right, Mr Bach?" he added, referring to IOC president Thomas Bach.

The IOC has faced a backlash from Ukraine after it said last week it was looking into a "pathway" for Russians to take part, including as neutral athletes.

Russia and its ally Belarus have been sidelined from most Olympic sports since Russian forces invaded Ukraine last February.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Russia's participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics would amount to showing that "terror can allegedly be something acceptable".

"As if it is possible to turn a blind eye to what Russia is doing to Kherson, to Kharkiv, to Bakhmut and Avdiivka," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address, referring to Ukrainian cities under constant Russian attacks.

Zelensky added that he sent a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron on the matter, following a phone call with him last week.

"We must be sure that Russia will not be able to use it (the Olympics) or any other international sporting event to promote aggression or its state chauvinism," he said.

Ukraine Sports Minister Vadym Goutzeit has warned his country could boycott the Summer Games next year if Russian and