The Russian Foreign Ministry accused the IOC of segregating athletes based on nationality

The actions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) towards Russian athletes are discrimination and are regarded by Russia as segregation based on nationality. About it it says in a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

“References to the fact that restrictive measures against Russian athletes were a consequence of the “start of a military action by the Russian army during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing 2022, which was a violation of the Olympic Truce in force at that time and a violation of the Olympic Charter,” are unacceptable,” it is emphasized in the message.

The Foreign Ministry called the IOC’s approach “an example of double standards” and called for it to be reviewed “in accordance with the norms of international legal documents in the field of sports and the spirit of the international Olympic movement.”

They noticed that the term “Olympic Truce” is not contained in the Olympic Charter. Its mention can be found in UN General Assembly resolutions, but this cannot be used as an excuse to discriminate against athletes from a particular country. As the department noted, the experience of the IOC also shows that previously athletes were not excluded from sports competitions due to military conflicts during the Olympic Games.

Earlier today at the IOC press service explained different approaches to the issue of admission of Russian and Israeli athletes to the Olympic Games due to the fact that Russia allegedly violated the Olympic truce in February 2022, which lasts for another seven days after the end of the Games. Israel did not allow such a violation.

November 1 IOC warned athletes from discrimination against Israeli athletes. They emphasized that “athletes cannot be held responsible for the actions of their governments.”

The 2024 Olympics will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11. The final decision on the performance of Russians at the competition has not yet been made.

After the start of the special operation, the IOC recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be allowed to compete, but on March 28, 2023, they announced a easing of measures. Athletes from the Russian Federation and Belarus will be able to participate in international competitions under a neutral flag. Restrictions will remain for those athletes who compete in team sports, as well as for those who support the official position of the Russian and Belarusian authorities on Ukraine. Various sports federations also maintain their restrictions.