IOC: Ukrainian athletes will be harmed by government ban
If they have to compete against Russians, Ukraine’s athletes claim they won’t take part in qualifying events for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The International Olympic Committee criticized Ukraine for refusing to let its athletes compete in 2024 Olympic qualifying events if they would have to compete against Russians, claiming that this would only harm Ukrainian sport and its competitors.
Following recommendations from the IOC on Tuesday for the gradual reintroduction of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competition as neutrals, Ukrainian government minister Oleh Nemchinov made the announcement on Friday. Since March 2022, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the month before, athletes from the two nations are prohibited from competing in the majority of elite international sporting events.
The IOC strongly opposed the decision, saying that if it were to be put into effect, it would only harm Ukrainian athletes and have no bearing on the global effort to put an end to the conflict.
Nemchinov, secretary of Ukraine’s cabinet ministers, said the government’s decision was adopted following a proposal by Sports Minister Vadym Huttsait and national federations disobeying the ruling could be sanctioned. “The IOC has always maintained that it is not up to governments to decide which athletes can participate in which international competitions,” Nemchinov said. The head of Ukraine’s Olympic Committee is Huttsait.
The IOC will decide separately later on whether or not Russian and Belarusian competitors will compete in the Paris Games. If Russians are permitted to compete there, Ukraine has threatened to boycott the games.
The IOC stated: “We have seen athletes compete with each other in practically all editions of the Games despite the fact that their country are at war or in conflict. Unfortunately, there are far too many wars, armed conflicts, and crises in this globe.” To avoid a repeat of the Cold War-era Olympic boycotts, the IOC is hesitant to ban Russians and Belarusians from Paris.
For them to qualify for the Olympics through Asian qualifying competitions for the 2024 Games and compete as neutral athletes without flags or anthems, the body laid forth a plan in January. While some federations have allowed Russians and Belarusians to compete once more, athletes and certain European governments have been vocal opponents of the IOC’s plans.
In a forceful letter earlier this week, more than 300 fencers from the past and present accused IOC President Thomas Bach—himself an Olympic gold medalist—and interim Fencing Federation President Emmanuel Katsiadakis of giving preference to Russians over Ukrainians.
The letter claimed that by choosing the interests of Russian and Belarusian athletes over the rights of Ukrainian athletes, “you have failed to assist the very people your organizations are meant to support.”
