Lukashenka supported the opportunity for Belarusian athletes to compete without a flag
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President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko expressed support for the possibility for Belarusian athletes to compete at international competitions without the flag of the republic.
“We have to fight to help our athletes. But if our athlete comes out and performs and he does not have our flag at the moment, will we have less pride for him? This is a patriot, this is our man,” Lukashenka said (quote according to TASS).
According to the Belarusian president, it is impossible to deprive athletes of their favorite sport and livelihood, so if necessary, they will be able to write a statement that they are against the wars unleashed by the West. He noted that “it must be experienced.”
On January 25, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted for the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions in a neutral status.
On March 28, IOC President Thomas Bach announced that the organization supports the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes in neutral status, however, for this, athletes must not support the military operation in Ukraine and not be associated with the Russian and Belarusian armed forces or national security agencies. In particular, they will only be able to participate in individual sports. Then Bach declaredwhich will decide on the admission of athletes from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus to participate in the 2024 Olympics in Paris “at the right time.”
March 30 Bach toldthat the IOC has asked military experts to establish criteria for determining athletes who are in the service of the Russian military structures. Then he added that international sports federations should have independent commissions and such experts to create “general rules” for all sports.
Former press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov informedthat the Kremlin will continue to defend the interests of Russian athletes in international sports and will continue to contact the IOC “precisely to protect” these interests.
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