The head of Russias Olympic Committee said Tuesday that professional athletes representing Russiamust not be subjected to different conditions from those of other countries, amidst a growing row over their involvement in the 2024 Paris Games.
Russians should take part precisely on the exact same conditions as all other professional athletes.
Any extra conditions or criteria are unwelcome, particularly any that have political overtones, which are completely undesirable for the Olympic motion, Stanislav Pozdnyakov said, according to Russian news agencies.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated last week it was examining a pathway for Russians to take part in the Summer Games next year, most likely as neutral athletes rather than under their nationwide flag.Russia and its ally Belarus, which allowed its area to be a staging ground for Moscows offensive, have actually been sidelined from most Olympic sports given that Russian forces invaded Ukraine last February.That announcement stimulated an immediate reaction from Kyiv, with a Ukrainian governmental aide accusing the IOC of being a promoter of war.
Ukraine has threatened to boycott the Paris Games if Russian professional athletes are permitted to take part.Pozdnyakov stated his organization welcomed efforts by the IOC to enable Russian athletes to complete.
But as for extra conditions, we highly disagree.
The Olympic Charter mentions that all athletes need to take part on an equal footing, he added.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russias participation in the Paris Olympics would total up to showing that terror can presumably be something appropriate.
Zelensky likewise stated recently that he had invited the president of the IOC, Thomas Bach, to visit the frontline city of Bakhmut, so that he can see for himself that neutrality does not exist.