Zelenskyy urges new head of International Olympic Committee to maintain principled stance on Russia
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (facebook.com/zelenskyy.official)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with the new head of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry. In particular, they discussed the IOC’s position on Russia, according to the Ukrainian president’s Telegram channel.
Zelenskyy thanked Coventry for the IOC’s support of Ukraine and Ukrainian athletes.
The president recalled that Russia continues its aggression and has made no steps toward peace. In particular, there is currently no greater destroyer of sports infrastructure — or even of the principles of Olympism — than Russia.
According to Zelenskyy, since the start of the full-scale war, more than 600 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russian attacks. Hundreds of Ukrainian sports facilities have also been destroyed.
The head of state noted that Russia always tries to use any sporting event in which it participates for its propaganda purposes. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a distance between the sports movement and Russian wrongdoing.
"We also talked about preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Not only we in Ukraine, but many other countries that defend life, still expect the IOC to maintain the principled stance it held during the Paris Olympics regarding aggressive Russia and its accomplice, Belarus," he added.
The president also invited the new head of the IOC to visit Kyiv.
Russia at the Olympics
Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics, but with a number of restrictions.
In particular, the Russian anthem, flag, and other symbols were banned.
At the same time, the new IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, recently suggested that Russians and Belarusians might be allowed to take part in the 2026 Olympics.
