The head of the IOC urged to continue not to allow Russian athletes to compete

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, said that the situation with the removal of Russian athletes from the competition is “an insoluble dilemma.” On the one hand, in his opinion, athletes “should not become victims of their government’s policies.” On the other hand, he believes that it is not yet necessary to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete.

Mr. Bach on the eve delivered a speech at a meeting of the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). According to him, the IOC’s decision not to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete was taken “as a protective measure.” However, he claims that the IOC agreed to the measure “with a very heavy heart” because it affected “athletes and sports officials who did not start this war” and are not responsible for it.

“Athletes should never be victims of their government’s policies. We will not treat everyone with the same brush because of the actions of their government,” said Thomas Bach, quoted by the portal Insidethegames. According to him, the words of the head of the IOC caused applause from the ANOC delegates.

At the same time, Mr. Bach called the recent escalation of the conflict in Ukraine an example of how Russia violated the Olympic Charter. He noted that “sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian governments must and will remain in force.” “This situation presents us with an insoluble dilemma. We cannot fully fulfill our Olympic mission, which is to protect athletes and unite the whole world in competition … Unfortunately, in this unique situation, the only way to protect this mission was to recommend the non-participation of athletes (in competition.— “b”) only because of their passport (of Russia or Belarus.— “b”),” he added.

After the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the IOC recommended sports federations not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete, and also not to invite officials from these countries. The head of the IOC kept these recommendations in June, July, august. AT September he allowed the participation of Russian athletes in the competition. The Olympic Committee of the Russian Federation considers the decision of the IOC to be contrary to the Olympic Charter.

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