Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday opposed the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions, as recommended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) this week.
“Olympic principles and war are fundamental contradictions. Russia must stop aggression and terror, and only then will it be possible to talk about Russian participation in the context of the Olympic movement,” the president wrote in Telegram.
For his part, the adviser to the Ukrainian president, Mikhailo Podolyak, criticized the decision on Twitter: “The IOC proposes to the world to promote violence, mass murder and destruction. Therefore, it insists that Russian athletes participate in competitions as real ‘ambassadors’ of death,” he wrote.
#IOC proposes to the world to promote violence, mass murder and destruction. Therefore, it insists that athletes participate in competitions as true “ambassadors of death”… Sport does not exist outside politics – sport promotes it. This is how the IOC promotes anti-human policies
– Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) January 28, 2023
Podolyak stressed that it is not possible to separate sports and politics, given that the IOC decision promotes “Russian anti-human policies”.
The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) supported the IOC’s statement, which recommends the readmission of Russian and Belarusian athletes under a neutral flag and if they have not “actively” supported the war in Ukraine.
“We share the firm belief within the Olympic Movement,” said the ANOC in a released statement, “that athletes should not be prevented from competing on the basis of the passport they hold and that a path should be explored for its return. of Russian athletes and Belarusians. to compete under conditions”.
Source: DN
