The head of the IOC criticized a colleague from Denmark for the word “Russians”

The head of the Danish Olympic Committee, Hans Natorp, urged that representatives of Russia and Belarus not be allowed to participate in the general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). He was supported by delegates from Norway and New Zealand. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, however, condemned the proposal.

The ANOC meeting took place the day before, on October 18. Representatives of the Russian Olympic Committee and their Belarusian counterparts were allowed to attend the event. During the meeting, Mr. Bach chided a Danish colleague for using the word “Russians” and told him that the Danish organization should “reflect on its role” as a member of the Olympic movement.

The head of the IOC stressed that a democratic organization must respect the views of the majority. “There are no ‘Russians’ here, there are no ‘Danes’ here, there are no ‘Germans’ here, there are no ‘Argentines’. For us, they are athletes, sports organizations. We will not treat everyone with the same brush because of the actions of their governments,” Thomas Bach emphasized during his speeches.

However, Mr. Bach thinksthat it is not yet necessary to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete. He said that the situation with the suspension of athletes is an “insoluble dilemma” because, in his opinion, athletes “should not become victims of their government’s policies.” Against the background of the Russian military operation in Ukraine IOC recommended sports federations not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete, and also not to invite officials from these countries.

Details – in the material “Kommersant” “The IOC prescribed distancing for Russian athletes”.