Germany wants the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to “very carefully analyze” the background of Russian and Belarusian athletes and exclude from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games those who supported the war in Ukraine.
“It is now up to the International Olympic Committee and the international federations to precisely examine whether Russian and Belarusian athletes should be excluded if they in any way supported the Russian war of aggression or if they have any connection with the Russian Government or the Russian military.” “said Minister Nancy Faeser, who holds the Sports portfolio, in a statement.
On Friday, the IOC authorized the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, under a neutral flag and on the condition that they do not actively support the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Only 11 “neutral individual athletes” – eight Russians and three Belarusians – are currently qualified for the next edition of the Olympic Games, of which these two countries remain excluded from the team events, the IOC said in a statement.
“Putin should not be allowed to use the Paris Olympic Games for his propaganda under any circumstances. That Russian teams remain excluded and that flags and symbols are banned is the least we can expect from the IOC,” he added.
Following their exclusion from world sport in February 2022, the Olympic body has argued that Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be penalized for the actions of their countries’ governments.
In March, the IOC recommended to international federations the reinstatement of Russians and Belarusians to their competitions, under a neutral flag, but postponed “until the appropriate time” its own decision on the presence in Paris 2024 and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. -Curtain.
Source: TSF
