MADRID, 9 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Ukrainian athletes have accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of “being on the wrong side of history”, after assessing the participation of Russian athletes in Paris 2024 with a neutral flag, through a letter addressed to the world body.
“The IOC is rewarding Putin’s aggression while ignoring the death and destruction of his victims,” said the statement from the Ukrainian Olympic Committee, along with the Global Athlete union, signed by sports body president Vadym Guttsait.
In the letter, the national committee recalled that Russia “used its 2014 Winter Olympics, along with a state-sponsored doping program,” to create a “good image” at home and abroad “before annexing Crimea.” . “In 2022 it did the same, using the Beijing Games to strengthen its link with China before invading Ukraine,” the statement said.
“Russia has placed its athletes in prominent positions in the military and has promoted sporting success as signs of Russian superiority. These actions have been possible because Russia has manipulated and controlled the governing bodies of the sport for its own benefit,” he criticized. the Ukrainian Committee.
For all this, from Ukraine they argued that the IOC “continues to be on the wrong side of history.” “Sponsors, host cities and national governments must stop tolerating the IOC bowing down to Russia,” the letter added.
“Russia’s war of aggression has cost hundreds of thousands of lives, destroyed infrastructure, threatened the stability of the world’s food supply and risked a nuclear catastrophe,” the Ukrainian athletes lamented.
This statement comes days after Ukrainian boxer Oleksandar Usyk, world heavyweight champion, urged the IOC not to allow Russian athletes to compete under a neutral flag at next year’s Paris Games, because any medal they win these will be “blood”.
The Executive Committee of the highest Olympic body met two weeks ago to assess the continuity of the sanctions on Russia and Belarus and solidarity with Ukraine. Last December, the president of the IOC, Thomas Bach, already spoke of the importance of sport recovering its “unifying mission”.
Thus, the Executive of the IOC studies this option for the great event of the sport next year because “no athlete should be prohibited from competing only for his passport.” His participation would be as neutral and “in no case” representing his country. In addition, the statement from the Olympic body points out that the athletes must have been faithful to the IOC peace mission and not have shown their support for the war in Ukraine.