Ukraine threatens not to go to Paris-2024 and pressure grows to ban Russians and Belarusians – 02/24/2023 – Marina Izidro

Winning the right to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games is like winning the lottery, but without knowing exactly how much of the prize you will take. It is a privilege for few, but, as the decision comes seven years before, it is impossible to predict how the world will be on the day of the opening ceremony. Tokyo organizers would never have imagined a devastating pandemic. Paris, next host in 2024, did not count on a war involving a European neighbor and a sports power.

I am writing this column on my way to the French capital for a few days of work and rest. One year and four months away from the Games, there are no major problems in preparing for the Olympics. Paris is still dazzling, almost all the arenas already exist or will be temporary, public transport is excellent. But February 24th marks one year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is the sports controversy so far.

It is common for the Olympics to be influenced by geopolitical issues. In 1936, Americans threatened not to go to Hitler’s Nazi Germany Games; World Wars 1 and 2 forced the cancellation of the 1916, 1940 and 1944 editions; Germans and Japanese were banned in 1948, as were South Africa during apartheid and Russia for the doping scandal of recent years.

Now, Ukraine threatens to boycott Paris if athletes from Russia and Belarus (Russian allies in the war) can compete. More than 30 governments, including hosts France, advocate banning Russians and Belarusians.

The International Olympic Committee does not confirm, but suggests that there is a way for athletes from both countries to compete as neutral – without a flag or anthem on the podium. Ukrainians do not accept.

Boycott is when a country decides not to go to the Games, usually as a way of putting pressure on governments, and tries to convince allies to do the same. It has happened a few times throughout Olympic history. In 1980, the United States led a boycott of more than 60 countries to the Moscow Games because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In retaliation, the Soviets and 13 other nations sent no contestants to Los Angeles four years later.

But there is a certain consensus that sports boycotts do not achieve their political purpose and that, in the end, the biggest losers are the athletes. The conflict in Afghanistan lasted ten years and the consequence of the American absence in Moscow was the Soviet “enemies” record of medals. Furthermore, they would have no impact on authoritarian countries that see this type of pressure as meddling. In the Qatar World Cup, marked by controversy, players tried a middle ground: they went and expressed dissatisfaction in interviews or in other forms of protest.

There is a lighter type of boycott, the diplomatic one, like that of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Countries like the United States did not send official representatives claiming concern about the human rights situation in China, but let athletes compete. As the event had severe restrictions and health bubbles because of the pandemic, it was even more symbolic.

Personally, I find it very difficult for a Ukrainian boycott to happen. Allies such as Poland already dodge when asked about the subject. At the same time, international pressure is growing to ban Russians and Belarusians. As 2023 is the year of Olympic qualifiers, a decision needs to come out soon.

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