Most Russian and Belarusian athletes, allowed to participate in Olympics, support war
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
According to the human rights organization Global Rights Compliance, more than half of Russian and Belarusian athletes cleared to compete in the Paris Olympic Games have ties to the military or national security services of Russia or support the war in Ukraine, reports Bloomberg.
Overall, 33 out of 59 athletes have violated International Olympic Committee guidelines for participation in the Games, states a 223-page report by Global Rights Compliance.
President of the organization, Wayne Jordash, stated that in June, they sent a letter expressing concerns to the IOC, which was not adequately addressed, and two subsequent letters were ignored.
He criticized the IOC for essentially whitewashing its sporting position by failing to properly enforce its own rules. "If they hadn’t come out with these principles and promoted them, then the IOC’s position would be less egregious," Jordash remarked.
The report highlights that 12 athletes have ties to military and security forces through institutions like the Central Army Sports Club or CSKA, an entity under the Russian Ministry of Defense. It also found that 13 individuals liked or retweeted pro-war or anti-Ukrainian posts on social media.
On June 16, the first batch of 25 Russian and Belarusian athletes was cleared to participate in the Paris Olympic Games, while others failed the International Olympic Committee's verification process due to Russia's war against Ukraine.
What does the verification process entail
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, initially, the IOC recommended banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions. However, later on, they allowed them to qualify for the 2024 Paris Games under a neutral status.
Each qualified athlete must undergo scrutiny by a three-member IOC panel to ensure they meet eligibility criteria.
Among these criteria are the absence of active support for the war against Ukraine and no affiliation with any military or security structure.
