Olympics 2024: the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes “encourages aggression against Ukraine,” according to Kyiv

The International Olympic Committee’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes under a neutral flag into the 2024 Paris Olympics is “wrong” and “encourages” Moscow and Minsk to continue their offensive against Ukraine, Kyiv condemned on Saturday.

“The members of the IOC Executive Committee who made this decision take responsibility for encouraging Russia and Belarus to continue armed aggression against Ukraine,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. On his X (formerly Twitter) account, Ukrainian Minister Dmitry Kuleba calls “all partners (from Ukraine) to strongly condemn this disgraceful decision.”

The International Olympic Committee announced this Friday that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris under strict conditions. A similar decision was already made at the end of September for Paralympic athletes.

Only “neutral individual” athletes who were able to overcome the qualification barrier, do not actively support the war in Ukraine, and do not have a contract with either the army or national security agencies will be affected. Eleven of them currently meet those criteria: eight Russians and three Belarusians, the IOC said, suggesting the delegation would be very small.

Thus, Russians will be present, but not wearing their country’s colors. No officials, no anthem and even fewer white, blue and red flags at the sites of the next Games in France.

“Moscow will not wave white and neutral flags during the competition, as the IOC proposes, but will demonstrate the triumph of its ability to absolve itself of responsibility for the largest armed conflict in Europe since the Second World War,” Ukrainian diplomacy continues. The Ukrainian ministry believes that athletes, “especially Russian ones,” “often represent organizations associated with the Russian armed forces” and that “some are on active military service in the Russian army.”

“The IOC plans to allow athletes to compete in international sports arenas who not only support the murders of Ukrainian women and children, but are also likely directly involved in these crimes,” Ukrainian diplomats assured.

“Discriminatory” conditions, judges Russia

These conditions of participation were condemned by Russia, which considered them “discriminatory” and contrary to sporting principles, in the voice of Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin, as quoted by TASS.

However, he indicated that Russian athletes who have qualified for the 2024 Olympics “will likely take part.” At the same time, about sixty Ukrainians have already qualified for the Paris Games (July 26 – August 11, 2024).

“This is a semi-victory for Vladimir Putin in the sense that he is entering the path of major international sporting events,” Lucas Aubin, Iris research director and specialist in the geopolitics of sports and Russia. He may not be satisfied with this decision, but he will still be able to use the event to send a signal, regardless of the decisions and wishes of the Western powers. »

The prospect of seeing an absent or very weakened Ukrainian delegation has long troubled the Olympic body and would make the presence of Russian athletes more politically sensitive, even without an anthem or flag.