Last Tuesday’s Olympic Summit defended the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes, as neutral athletes, in Paris 2024, and urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make a decision “as soon as possible” to clarify “qualification procedures”.
“Representatives of international summer sports federations called on the IOC to make all AIN countries eligible to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. [atletas individuais neutros] who have qualified or will qualify for the competition. They further urge that a decision be made as soon as possible to clarify their Olympic qualification procedures and for all athletes involved.”reads the list of conclusions from this summit.
Led by IOC President Thomas Bach, the 12th Olympic Summit, held in the Swiss city of Lausanne, opened the door for the presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the next Olympic Games, as neutral athletes, noting that their participation ‘ to a large number of events”, under “strict conditions”, took place without incident, “with only one notable exception”.
“The summit was informed that despite the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), the IOC has not changed its recommendations regarding the participation of AIN under strict conditions. It was emphasized that the protection of the rights of individual athletes to participate in competitions despite the suspension of their National Olympic Committees (NOC) is a consolidated practice, which respects human rights, and has been implemented in several NOCs established during the past Olympic Games were suspended.”the statement said.
The IOC has suspended the Russian Olympic Committee for deciding on October 5 to unilaterally integrate regional sports associations from Ukrainian territories under the authority of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee, namely Zaporijia, Donetsk, Lugansk and Kherson. decided on the participation of Russians and Belarusians in the Paris 2024 Games, scheduled between July 26 and August 11.
Russia and Belarus have been banned from several sporting events since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, some individual athletes have been allowed to participate, subject to conditions, namely presenting themselves under a neutral flag.
“Following these calls, the IOC confirmed that the participation of these AINs in the Olympic Games could only take place under strict conditions. Neither the qualification system established by the respective International Federations nor the number of quotas allocated to a sport will be changed for AINs. with a Russian or Belarusian passport. These will have to meet the participation criteria that apply to every Olympic athlete.”reads point 14 of the communiqué following the Olympic Summit.
However, the participants of the meeting, including presidents of international federations, continental associations or the president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, reaffirmed the “continued solidarity and support” for the Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic Committee of Ukraine from “all over the world.” Olympic Movement”.
The Olympic Summit also highlighted the “very difficult geopolitical situation in the world, in which too many wars and conflicts are taking place”, ahead of the Olympic Games which they hope will be “a symbol of peace and unity”.
“The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the first Olympic Games with gender equality. Participants [na Cimeira] welcomed the fact that the IOC, together with international federations, changed the qualification quotas and the sports program, resulting in an equal distribution of quotas: 50% for women and 50 for men”the participants noted, also arguing that the next Games will be “younger, more inclusive, more urban and more sustainable.”
Source: DN
