Beijing (IANS) | International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has said that the IOC is working to help athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports return to international sporting events.
At an IOC executive board meeting held in March, Bach said a decision on whether Russian and Belarusian athletes could compete at next year’s Paris Olympics would be taken “at the appropriate time”. Bak told Xinhua that he still needs time to see how these recommendations are accepted and respected. One of the recommendations mentioned by Bach means that athletes from these two countries can participate in the Paris Olympics with neutral status.
“We are now making all efforts to fulfill the mission, to bring back athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports to international competitions,” Bak said. “We are in very close cooperation and exchange with the international federations that are currently responsible for running their competitions, and we very much hope that this mission can then be accomplished under the conditions that have been established.” Athletes from these two countries should participate in neutral conditions, so that we can actually unite the whole world with a few people for the Olympic Games in Paris.
Bach acknowledged that there was a risk of politicizing the decision but insisted that “any kind of boycott would only punish their own athletes.” He remarked, “You know the statements of governments who want to decide who can and cannot take part in the Olympics, international sporting events. We have to be very firm that these decisions are to be taken by responsible sports organizations “
Bach said, “I see that governments have a right to express their position. But he also feels that any kind of boycott would only punish their own athletes and prevent their people from being proud of their Olympic performance.” Will deprive
IOC working to return Russian, Belarusian athletes to international competitions under neutrality
