IOC head Bach supported the admission of Russians to the Olympic Games in a neutral status

The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, explained the admission of Russians and Belarusians to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris by the fact that athletes are not responsible for the actions of governments.

“Individual athletes cannot be held responsible for the actions of their governments. This is just one of 28 military conflicts that continue in the world, other athletes compete peacefully with each other,” Thomas Bach said in an interview with the BBC.

Speaking about a possible boycott of the Olympic Games by countries that do not want to compete with the Russians and Belarusians, Thomas Bach said that everyone is “allowed to have different political views.”

This week, acting Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Matvey Bedny statedthat the participation of Ukrainian athletes in the Games in Paris will be impossible if Russians are still allowed to compete. The IOC announced the admission of Russians to the Games in Paris in a neutral status on December 8. To participate, athletes must sign several new agreements.

Today, December 14, President Vladimir Putin, during the “Results of the Year” – a press conference combined with a direct line, called for a careful analysis of the conditions for admission of Russians to the Olympic Games. The head of state advised the Ministry of Sports to make an informed decision and take into account whether these criteria are aimed at preventing the leaders of Russian sports from participating in the Games.

Read more about the situation in the Kommersant article. “The IOC was asked to hurry up”.