Head of the IOC: The Majority of the International Community Supports the Return of Russian Athletes

Head of the IOC: The Majority of the International Community Supports the Return of Russian Athletes

N-TV reports that the vast majority of the world community supports the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions, citing the IOC head Thomas Bach. Bach said that the fact that athletes are not allowed to compete because of their passport and place of birth is discrimination.

Worldwide, there is broad support of the idea of allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions, writes N-TV, citing the words of the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach.

“These ideas are shared by the vast majority all over the world,” the newspaper quotes Bach.

Among other things, the IOC head noted that the return of Russian athletes is welcomed in the Olympic committees of Africa and Asia.

Edition reminds that recently Thomas Bach allowed the possible participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in the summer Olympics – 2024 in Paris. Moreover, they were speaking about performances under a neutral flag.

Bach noted that all over the world there is “a commitment to the unifying mission of the Olympic Games, to preserving the last bridges between nations and countries. The IOC said that a condition for athletes’ admission to the Games would be compliance with the Olympic Charter, as well as the sanctions imposed during the Ukraine crisis.

The head of the IOC also said that two special representatives of the UN Human Rights Council expressed their doubts about further exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions. Bach stressed that the exclusion from competitions on the basis of passport and place of birth is a violation of the principle of non-discrimination.

Bach’s words were harshly criticized in Ukraine, writes N-TV. The Minister of Sport of Ukraine Vadim Gutzeit stated that the Ukrainian team may boycott the 2024 Olympics if the Russian and Belarussian athletes are allowed to compete. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky also condemned Bach’s position.

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