Olympic leader Bach explains policy on helping Russians compete with neutral status
Comparing the plight of Ukrainian athletes with those in another war-ravaged country Yemen, IOC president Thomas Bach explained to Olympic athlete groups Monday its policy on helping Russians compete with neutral status before the 2024 Paris Games.
The International Olympic Committee invited a global selection of athlete representatives to a two-day meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, while sports bodies work to shape their neutrality rules and assess individual Russians who want to return to international events and qualify for Paris.
The 11th International Athletes’ Forum brought together 400+ athlete representatives to discuss the most important issues facing athletes today, and concluded with a focus on upcoming Olympic Games, safe sport and a Q&A with the IOC President. <br><br>Outcomes: <a href="https://t.co/deSDok4BUd">https://t.co/deSDok4BUd</a> <a href="https://t.co/ATzcYRliNJ">pic.twitter.com/ATzcYRliNJ</a>
Ukrainian judoka Georgii Zantaraia told Bach his country did not understand why neutral status is being offered to Russian athletes and suggested any who disapproved of the war could compete in the Olympic refugee team.
"We all can understand the human suffering, the human feeling of the Ukrainian athletes," Bach told Zantaraia. "We understand the difficulties they have like your fellow athletes in Yemen."
Bach suggested the IOC took an unprecedented strong position on imposing limits on Russians in international sport when, he claimed, 28 wars are ongoing in the world.
"Some athletes and officials of other [Olympic teams] are accusing us of double standards," Bach told the athletes. "They say — `And what about our war? What did you do then? Where have you been? Where are you?"'
The reason given for
