03:19Switzerland: IOC president slams 'deplorable' reactions to recommendation on Russian athletes returning as 'neutrals'
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach criticised some European governments' 'deplorable negative reactions' to the IOC's recommendations for Russian athletes to participate in international competitions as neutrals, during a news conference held in Lausanne on Thursday.
“It is deplorable to see that some governments do not want to respect the majority within the Olympic movement and of all the stakeholders, nor the autonomy of the sport which they are appraising and requesting from other countries in countless speeches, UN resolutions, European Union declarations and at every other opportunity,” said Bach.
"It is deplorable that these governments do not address the question of double standards. We have not seen a single comment on their attitude on the participation of athletes from countries of the other 70 wars and armed conflict around the world", he added.
The IOC issued the recommendation for a return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions on March 28, although clarified that no decision had been taken on allowing them to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Stanislav Pozdnyakov described the IOC’s latest move on 'neutral athlete status' as 'obvious discrimination' and a 'farce', adding that "basic principles of the Olympic Charter and the UN Charter are being flagrantly violated."
Ukraine has threatened to boycott the 2024 Olympics if the ban on Russian players is not in place. Ukrainian Sports Minister Vadym Guttsait accused the IOC of 'double standards' for allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions.
34 countries including France have called on the organisation to ban Russian and Belarusian competitors from next summer’s games in Paris. The IOC sanctioned both countries following the 2022 Ukraine conflict.
03:19Mandatory Credit: IOC, editorial use only. No commercial use or association permitted
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach criticised some European governments' 'deplorable negative reactions' to the IOC's recommendations for Russian athletes to participate in international competitions as neutrals, during a news conference held in Lausanne on Thursday.
“It is deplorable to see that some governments do not want to respect the majority within the Olympic movement and of all the stakeholders, nor the autonomy of the sport which they are appraising and requesting from other countries in countless speeches, UN resolutions, European Union declarations and at every other opportunity,” said Bach.
"It is deplorable that these governments do not address the question of double standards. We have not seen a single comment on their attitude on the participation of athletes from countries of the other 70 wars and armed conflict around the world", he added.
The IOC issued the recommendation for a return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions on March 28, although clarified that no decision had been taken on allowing them to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Stanislav Pozdnyakov described the IOC’s latest move on 'neutral athlete status' as 'obvious discrimination' and a 'farce', adding that "basic principles of the Olympic Charter and the UN Charter are being flagrantly violated."
Ukraine has threatened to boycott the 2024 Olympics if the ban on Russian players is not in place. Ukrainian Sports Minister Vadym Guttsait accused the IOC of 'double standards' for allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions.
34 countries including France have called on the organisation to ban Russian and Belarusian competitors from next summer’s games in Paris. The IOC sanctioned both countries following the 2022 Ukraine conflict.