Because the IOC left no one satisfied after its decision to allow Russian athletes to participate in Paris 2024

The decision of International Olympic Committee to allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, under strict conditions of neutrality, it seems that no one was happy. And just over ten days after the announcement, the short circuits between the body presided over continue Thomas Bachwho defends his choice; Russia, who accuses the Olympic movement of wanting to “weaken” his team; and a group of countries led by Ukraine and the Baltic countries, which ask for the authorization to be revoked.

Friday 8 December, after having studied and analyzed the topic for many months, the THAT IS reported that Russian and Belarusian athletes – who had been barred from all international competitions after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – They will be able to compete in next year’s Olympic event in individual sports and under a neutral flag, that is, without the national symbols of their countries. And on the condition that they had not actively supported the war and were not associated with the army or security forces.

Complaints and criticisms were heard, but they failed to move the IOC from its position. “Individual athletes cannot be punished for the actions of their governments”Bach defended himself a few days ago before the consultation of the BBC British, during a forum in Geneva.

The phrase has been heard from the voice of the former German fencer since his organization said it is considering lifting sanctions on Russia and its ally.

“A war of 28 wars and conflicts in the world and all other athletes compete peacefully”justified the IOC chief, who also said that countries in disagreement “may have different political opinions” and rejected threats to boycott Paris.

Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr.The IOC vice president also supported the decision.

“I think we have found a painful but fair balance. Now it remains to be seen how many athletes from those countries will qualify and how it will end”he told the agency EFE. “We have managed, in a very polarized world, to respect our Olympic Charterbut we must recognize that we live in a real and very complex world”.

“The IOC is very optimistic and is very enthusiastic about Paris. The Olympic Games have their raison d’être to demonstrate that there is another path and that it doesn’t matter how different we are, because what unites us is more important. You can compete fiercely against each other and then live together like brothers in an Olympic village, With much respect. If ever there was a need for that message, it is now,” added the Spaniard.

The words of Bach and Samaranch did not go along with either side of the war and political conflict. On one side, Russia said the conditions imposed by the IOC were only aimed at devaluing its athletes and team.

It is worth mentioning that seven months before the start of the Games only eight Russian (and three Belarusian) athletes meet the neutrality requirements and have already managed to qualify. A number with very poor projection for a sporting powerhouse that has come to fruition Tokyo 2020 with a delegation of 335 people and brought a record of 455 to Beijing 2008.

“We need to carefully analyze what conditions the IOC proposes. If they are politically motivated and are artificial conditions aimed at alienating our leaders and disbanding the national team, then the Ministry of Sports and the Russian Olympic Committee They will have to analyze and make a thoughtful decision,” he reflected. Vladimir Putinsecond AFP.

“They acted under pressure from Western elites. And if they continue to behave like this, they will bury the Olympic movement.”denounced the Russian president.

“By inventing criteria and parameters that not only violate the Olympic Charter, but devalue it, the IOC has launched a campaign to neutralize our athletes. He announced his willingness to admit Russian and Belarusian athletes to the Olympic Games in Paris and immediately after reported in tone “It’s ridiculous how many of them have already been admitted. And the few who managed to sneak in have their national identity stolen,” he said. Stanislav Pozdnyakovpresident of the Russian Olympic Committee.

Pozdnyakov also called on his athletes to “carefully examine the conditions of participation to avoid becoming hostages of other interests.”

Critical voices were also heard on the other side. The presidents of Estonian National Olympic Committees, Latvia AND Lithuania – allies of Ukraine – sent a letter to the IOC demanding immediate explanations on the participation of Russians and Belarusians in Paris.

“We believe this decision is unacceptable as the conflict in Ukraine continues and civilians suffer war crimes committed by Russia with the support of Belarus,” reads the document signed by the Latvian NOC (LOK), which also asks to explain how athletes from sanctioned countries meet the requirements and which ones are connected to military facilities.

He OKHe further stated that there are eight countries – Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway – that “are currently working on the accuracy of the information, which includes not only asking the IOC for clarification on the details of this decision, but also to work closely with the other Olympic Commissions to develop a common position.

The three Baltic countries had already spoken out against the decision a few days after the IOC’s announcement.

Nausida GypsiesPresident of Lithuania, called the authorization “disappointing” and called for it to be reviewed and corrected.

He added: “I believe that the Olympic principles have nothing to do with terror, murder or destruction. So it is very disheartening to see these kinds of decisions now, at the critical stage of the war in Ukraine.”

While, Edgars Rinkēvičshis Latvian counterpart said the lifting of the sanction weakened “some of the key principles of the Olympic movement” and raised the possibility of a boycott.

“If nothing changes, it would be very difficult to see Ukrainian or Latvian athletes competing in Paris. This is a decision that the governments and sporting communities of each country must make and, of course, it must be well coordinated and well thought out. out with nations between including Ukraine, the Baltics and other European nations,” he analyzed.

Russia and Belarus on one side, Ukraine and its allies on the other and the IOC in the middle with a position that convinces no one. Seven months after the Games, the short circuits within Olympism continue. Will things calm down before Paris 2024 arrives?

Athletics, stopped for the “no”

If the IOC decision is valid and the Russians and Belarusians will finally be able to compete in Paris, there will still be one sport in which there will be no representatives of these countries, athletics. It’s that the World Athleticsone of the first international federations to apply the sanction to these two countries, is not willing to back down and, at least for now, is maintaining its position.

“There is no change. We have made a decision that we believe is in the best interests of our sport. And we will not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Paris,” he said. Sebastiano Coepresident of that federation, in a teleconference with several news agencies.

International federations have the autonomy to decide which athletes can participate in their competitions, which Coe said “is very important”.

After the outbreak of war in Ukraine, World Athletics expelled representatives of the aggressor countries from its tournaments, a measure that remains in place. And without being able to compete, Russians and Belarusians have no chance of qualifying for the Olympic Games and will not be able to be in Paris, regardless of what the IOC says.

Likewise, the British leader left the door open for the suspension to be lifted.

“The world changes every five minutes, the situation could change,” said the two-time Olympic champion. “We have a working group that is closely following the situation in the sport and who will advise and guide the Council on the circumstances that must exist for a ban to be lifted.”