Russia at 2024 Olympics: Ukraine reacts to IOC decision
Photo: Ukraine reacts to the decision of the IOC (Getty Images)
The members of the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee, who made the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2024 Olympics, bear responsibility for encouraging Russia and Belarus to continue armed aggression against Ukraine, as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine considers the decision of the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions in a neutral status as a mistake.
The Ukrainian side has repeatedly pointed out to the Olympic Committee and international partners the risks of such a decision.
"Belarusian and especially Russian athletes often represent sports organizations associated with the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Some of them are in active Russian military service, and some wear symbols of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine on their sports uniforms," emphasized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the Ministry, it was noted that the IOC plans to release athletes to international sports arenas who not only sympathize with the killings of Ukrainian women and children but also, presumably, are directly involved in these horrific crimes.
As stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, the International Olympic Committee has effectively given Russia the green light to bring weapons to the Olympics. There is no doubt that the Kremlin will use every Russian and Belarusian athlete as a weapon in its propaganda war.
"Moscow will not raise white neutral flags at the competitions, as the IOC presents it, but will demonstrate the triumph of avoiding responsibility for resolving the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II," added the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Decision of the IOC on the admission of Russian athletes to the 2024 games
Yesterday, on December 8, the International Olympic Committee allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games. They will compete under a neutral status.
Ukraine, for its part, is considering boycotting the Olympics if Russia and Belarus are allowed to participate. As Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported, our country and 34 other states have formed a coalition ready to boycott the competition.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Estonia and Lithuania have already condemned the decision of the International Olympic Committee to admit Russians to the 2024 Olympic Games.
