In a speech he delivered in Germany, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach defended his organization’s efforts to facilitate the return of Russian and Belarusian competitors to competition.
In a speech delivered in his home country of Germany during a favorable conflict in Ukraine, Worldwide Olympic Panel President Thomas Bach defended his organization’s efforts to provide a pathway for Russian and Belarusian competitors to return to competition.
Bach argued that, in bad times, the Olympics can work with trade, and he reiterated the IOC’s position that it would be unfair to exclude Belarusians and Russians solely on the basis of citizenship. WDR reports that nearly 200 protesters who support Ukraine gathered outside the venue and demanded that Russia be completely excluded from the Olympics.
The IOC recommended excluding Russia and Belarus for safety reasons shortly after the invasion last year. However, the IOC now supports allowing their athletes to compete as neutrals without their national symbols due to the packed schedule of qualifying events for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Bach stated that he opposed using sports to influence government issues and treating Russians with “aggregate responsibility.” He went on to say that the Olympics can’t be one-sided if they are supposed to bring people together.
According to a statement released by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), competitors should be disqualified from the competition for “effectively supporting the conflict.” An official conclusion will be issued by the global partnerships that oversee individual games, but little is known about how that will work.
The IOC may advise athletes not to pose with the “Z” symbol, which is a marking on Russian military vehicles that has come to symbolize support for the war, according to Bach’s remarks on Wednesday.
“Our standards disallow the wearing of this Z, posting, and other dynamic types of help for the conflict,” according to Bach’s statement. Participants in these competitions should not be allowed to support the war in this way. Our only suggestion is this.
Bach responded that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) could decide on its strategy during a board meeting the following week when asked about what to do with the numerous Russian athletes who are members of the military or have ties to military organizations.
“Pause until midway through the following week.” “I am confident that we will develop suitable guidelines then,” he stated. AP)