Ukraine 'Very Concerned' Over Russian Olympics Call: Sports Minister

The Ukrainian government is "very concerned" by the call from sports federations and National Olympic Committees to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at next year's Paris Olympics, its acting sports minister has told AFP. Matviy Bidnyi said Kyiv was concerned that the move gave the impression that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) "does not want to demonstrate the necessary leadership in the matter of Olympic fairness and justice." Bidnyi -- who replaced his former boss Vadym Gutzeit when he was fired in November -- was reacting after the request to the IOC on Tuesday considerably boosted the hopes of Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutral athletes in Paris.

The IOC is yet to make a final ruling on whether competitors from Russia and Belarus, a key ally of Moscow in its Ukraine offensive, will be permitted to take part in the Games that run from July 26 to August 11.

The IOC has said it will decide "at the appropriate time".

Bidnyi said he hoped the IOC would act in as responsible a fashion as it has done on previous occasions since the war began when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion in February last year.

"As aptly stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky: 'Obviously, any neutral flag of Russian athletes is stained with blood'," said Bidnyi.

"We count on a responsible decision and leadership of the IOC, which will not allow Russia to use sport for military propaganda.

"Even if it's sport under a neutral flag."

He cited how the IOC had decided not to formally invite Russia as a team to the Games and more recently that the IOC had shown "responsible leadership" by suspending the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee.

"I remind you that Russia is the only