![]() Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago Friday and Belarus has been Russia's closest ally. While acknowledging there was an argument for them to compete as neutral athletes, the government officials noted in the joint statement how closely sports and politics are intertwined in Russia and Belarus. “Russia has proven, time and again, it has no regard for and is incapable of following the rules - in international sport and in international law.” Assistant Secretary of State Lee Satterfield said in a separate statement. “The United States will continue to join a vast community of nations to hold Russia and Belarus - and the bad actors who dictate their actions - accountable for this brutal war,” U.S. The IOC wants competitors from those countries who have not supported the war to be able to compete as neutral athletes, with no symbols of their countries allowed. The International Olympic Committee is trying to find a way to allow Russians into the Olympics, citing the opinion of United Nations human rights experts who believe Russians and Belarusians should not face discrimination simply for the passports they hold. "Let's stand in solidarity with Ukraine." 10: "Canada's position is clear: Russian and Belarusian athletes must be banned from the 2024 Olympic Games. Zelenskyy said Russia athletes had no place at the Paris Games as long as the country's invasion of Ukraine continues.Ĭanadian sports minister Pascale St-Onge signed the statement on behalf of Canada. 10 summit in London between government leaders, who heard from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Other countries that had suggested an Olympic boycott was possible if the war continues - such as Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Denmark - also signed onto the statement, which did not go so far as to mention a boycott. Those five countries brought nearly one-fifth of all athletes to the Tokyo Games in 2021. “As long as these fundamental issues and the substantial lack of clarity and concrete detail on a workable ‘neutrality’ model are not addressed, we do not agree that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed back into competition,” read the statement.Īmong those signing the statement were officials from the United States, Britain, France, Canada and Germany. Canada was among the governments of 35 countries signing a statement Monday calling on the International Olympic Committee to clarify the definition of “neutrality” as it seeks a way to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes back into international sports and, ultimately, next year's Paris Olympics.
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