Russian and Belarusian athletes barred from 2023 Asian Games
Illustrative photo (Photo: Getty Images)
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made a final decision regarding the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in the 2023 Asian Games. This year, athletes from these countries will not compete in the games, according to The Indian Express.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have announced that athletes from Russia and Belarus have been excluded from participating in the Asian Games, which are set to begin on September 23. The decision, as stated by OCA without specifying details, was made by the IOC, which, in turn, stated that this idea was "not feasible due to technical reasons."
In early July, the IOC had previously announced that athletes from Russia and Belarus would be allowed to compete in the Asian Games, with nearly 500 athletes expected to participate. The participation of Russian athletes in the Asian Games was seen as an opportunity for them to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.
Russian participation in sports competition
After the start of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine, several international sports federations banned Russian athletes from participating in competitions. However, some federations allowed Russian athletes to compete despite the ongoing war.
The question of Russian participation in the 2024 Olympics in Paris remains unresolved. Currently, the International Olympic Committee has decided to allow Russian athletes to participate under a neutral flag and with certain conditions, but the final decision regarding their participation in the Olympics has not been made yet.
