The IOC condemned calls for the complete exclusion of Russians from competitions
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James McLeod, director of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) department for relations with National Olympic Committees, said that the organization categorically opposes calls from a number of countries for the complete exclusion of all Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions. According to him, the IOC condemns the actions of both states, but has nothing against the performance of Russians and Belarusians in a neutral status.
“The IOC strongly rejects government interference in the affairs of sports organizations and continues to closely monitor the situation. In general, the community of athletes supported the return of neutral athletes to international competitions,” said Mr. McLeod during the 141st sessions IOC in Mumbai. Previously, representatives of Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic states have repeatedly made calls to completely exclude Russians and Belarusians from participating in competitions in Olympic sports.
According to James McLeod, athletes from Russia and Belarus are already competing at world championships in a number of Olympic events, and are also participating in qualifying competitions for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. However, the issue of their admission and the format of their participation in the Olympics will be decided later, the director of the IOC department emphasized.
October 13, IOC head Thomas Bach statedthat invitations to neutral athletes from Russia to the Paris Olympic Games will be consistent with international and, if necessary, national sporting situations. According to him, the removal of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) from the activities of the IOC will not in any way affect the athletes themselves, because they have nothing to do with the inclusion of the councils of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions in the ROC.
Read more about the relationship between the IOC and the Russian Federation in the Kommersant article. “Olympic Committee – Russia”.
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