International Olympic Committee recommends return of Russians to competitions as neutral athletes – News of Brazil
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The International Olympic Committee (COI) recommended that international federations authorize athletes with passports from Russia and Belarus to participate in international competitions as neutral athletes in individual sports. The announcement made this Tuesday (27) by the IOC executive committee, which will still decide whether or not Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to compete in the Summer Olympics in Paris (2024) and the Winter Olympics in Italy (2026).
The ban on athletes from Russia and Belarus in competitions had been in effect since February last year, as a result of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. Upon returning to international tournaments, Russian and Belarusian athletes will once again have a chance of qualifying for Paris 2024.
In a press conference, IOC president Thomas Bach defended the return of Russians and Belarusians to competitions. “We see this almost every day in many sports, mainly in tennis, but also in cycling, in some table tennis competitions.”said the leader at the headquarters of the entity, in Lausanne (Switzerland). “In none of these competitions did any security incidents happen”completed Bach,
According to Reuters news agency, Bach also said that politics cannot be part of sports competitions and that athletes should not be punished for their passports.
With the approach of the Paris 2024 Games, Ukraine’s campaign for athletes from Russia and Belarus to be excluded from the biggest sporting event on the planet is increasingly intense. Recently, the Women’s Boxing World Championship, which ended last Sunday (26th) – with Bahian Beatriz Ferreira gold in the 60 kilos – was boycotted by powers such as the United States, Canada, Sweden and Great Britain, who were against the participation of Russians and Belarusians.
According to Reuters, on Tuesday (27) more than 300 fencers wrote to Bach to ask the IOC to reconsider allowing the return, calling it a “catastrophic mistake” if Russia and Belarus can return to competition.
Source: Brazil Agency
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