Zakharova recalled the need to eliminate all forms of discrimination from sports

Sport does not accept any form of discrimination, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the words of International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach.

Earlier, the head of the IOC said that sport “cannot be outside politics, but must be politically neutral.” According to him, if sport “takes on the role of arbiter in every conflict, this will lead to the end.”

“Let me remind you that sport does not accept any form of discrimination: racial, linguistic, religious, political, skin color, gender, sexual orientation, having a different opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” , – wrote Zakharova on Telegram.

According to a representative of the foreign policy department, “much of Olympism has been distorted, trampled upon or consigned to oblivion.”

In July, the IOC press service reported that 203 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) would receive invitations to the 2024 Olympics, but the NOCs of Russia and Belarus would not be among them. The IOC explained its position by saying that the committee’s previously drawn up recommendations are intended for international federations and competition organizers, but do not apply to the Olympic Games in Paris. They added that a decision on the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes will be made “at the appropriate time.” However, it has not yet been adopted, and Russian athletes will probably not be able to take part in the games.

Earlier in November, the IOC press service explained the different approaches to the issue of admitting Russian and Israeli athletes to the Olympic Games by 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. On November 1, the IOC warned athletes against discrimination against Israeli athletes. They emphasized that “athletes cannot be held responsible for the actions of their governments.”

Against this background, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused IOC in discrimination and segregation of Russian athletes based on nationality.