(Sports news) A joint statement released by the Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish committees have given their backing to not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the 2024 Olympics by saying “now is not the right time to consider their return.” Ukraine has already threatened to boycott the 2024 Olympics if Russia is allowed to compete while Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland have all voiced their opposition. The International Olympic Committee has said that athletes from Russia and Belarus may be allowed to compete as “neutrals”.
Latvia’s foreign minister said it would be “unacceptable” for athletes from the two countries to participate in the Paris Olympics while Poland’s tourism minister said that as many as 40 countries could boycott the tournament if Russia and Belarus are allowed to compete. The Nordic Olympic and Paralympic Committees and Confederations of Sports reaffirmed their “steadfast support with the Ukrainian people and the demand for peace”. They added “The situation with the war in Ukraine has not changed. Now is not the right time to consider their return; that is our position.”
In the aftermath of the war, the International Olympic Committee had banned athletes competing for Russia and Belarus at the Winter Paralympics in March 2022 although they were allowed to compete under a neutral flag. The two countries were subjected to further sanctions including football, rugby, Formula 1, cycling and swimming, while Russian and Belarusian tennis players were banned from playing at Wimbledon. However, the IOC has changed its tune since then as it is exploring a pathway for athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete at Paris 2024.
A joint statement from Athletes for Ukraine and athlete association Global Athlete heavily criticised the move by saying the decision shows the IOC “endorses Russia’s brutal war and invasion of Ukraine”. The UK Government also condemned it by saying that the plan was a “world away from the reality of war” while Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said allowing Russia to compete would amount to showing that “terror is somehow acceptable”.
Also read: More countries could join Paris 2024 Olympics boycott due to Russia inclusion
