03:17Switzerland: Russian, Belarusian athletes may return to competitions as neutrals - IOC
The International Olympic Committee issued recommendations for a return of Russian and Belarussian to international sports competitions, during a press conference in Lausanne on Tuesday.
President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach announced the recommendations including that Russian and Belarusian competitors must compete as neutrals.
Bach added that athletes and support personnel who are serving in the respective countries' militaries or security services will not be allowed to enter international competitions and demanded that sanctions against Russia and Belarus remain in place.
"If governments took over the decisions regarding which athletes can take part in which competitions, it would be the end of world sport as we know it today. Sports organisations must have the sole responsibility to decide which athletes can take part in international competitions based on their sporting merits and not on political grounds or because of their passports," the IOC head said.
The recommendations do not include the 2024 Olympic Games and the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Tuesday's announcement was met with anger by some governments who oppose the participation of Russian athletes including Germany and Poland. Head of Russia's Olympic Committee Stanislav Pozdnyakov called the recommendations an 'obvious discrimination' and 'totally unacceptable.'
03:17Mandatory Credit: IOC, editorial use only. No commercial use or association permitted
The International Olympic Committee issued recommendations for a return of Russian and Belarussian to international sports competitions, during a press conference in Lausanne on Tuesday.
President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach announced the recommendations including that Russian and Belarusian competitors must compete as neutrals.
Bach added that athletes and support personnel who are serving in the respective countries' militaries or security services will not be allowed to enter international competitions and demanded that sanctions against Russia and Belarus remain in place.
"If governments took over the decisions regarding which athletes can take part in which competitions, it would be the end of world sport as we know it today. Sports organisations must have the sole responsibility to decide which athletes can take part in international competitions based on their sporting merits and not on political grounds or because of their passports," the IOC head said.
The recommendations do not include the 2024 Olympic Games and the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Tuesday's announcement was met with anger by some governments who oppose the participation of Russian athletes including Germany and Poland. Head of Russia's Olympic Committee Stanislav Pozdnyakov called the recommendations an 'obvious discrimination' and 'totally unacceptable.'