Poland among states renewing call for Russian, Belarusian Olympic ban
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Loading... - Blanco Rafael
- 29 May 2023
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Poland is one of 36 nations that have affixed their signatures to a declaration opposing the involvement of Russian and Belarusian athletes in global sporting events, including the Olympic Games.
The agreement was endorsed by the Polish sports minister and counterparts from 24 European Union member states, along with the United States, Australia, Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Ukraine, South Korea, Japan, Norway, Iceland, Albania, and Lichtenstein. This joint statement marks the fourth occasion on which sports ministries from these various countries have come together.
Released on Thursday, the document asserts that the signatories firmly believe that the Russian government, having violated the Olympic Truce on two occasions, should not be permitted to exploit sports as a means to legitimize their brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Likewise, it asserts that the Belarusian government should not be allowed to exploit sports to legitimize their complicity in Russia's aggressive war.
At the end of January, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) put forth a proposal suggesting that Russian and Belarusian athletes be allowed to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, albeit without the opportunity to showcase their national colors or play their countries' anthems.
In March, the IOC officially sanctioned the participation of Russian and Belarusian passport holders in international competitions, despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, this permission came with the aforementioned restrictions, as well as a ban on actively supporting armed conflicts or being members of the armed forces of the two nations. Additionally, these athletes were only allowed to compete in individual events.
"While some of the concerns expressed in our joint statement from February 21, 2023, have been addressed by the IOC based on their recommendations, it is evident that significant issues remain. These include matters concerning the military affiliations of athletes, state funding, the definition of team composition, and the enforcement mechanisms," stated the declaration issued on Thursday.
