IOC Considers Allowing Russian Athletes Opposing War to Participate in Olympics

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcoming Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who visited the capital Kyiv on July 3 (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering allowing Russian athletes who oppose the war to participate in international competitions.

Thomas Bach, IOC President, explained the dilemma regarding the ban on Russian athletes' participation in international competitions in an interview with the Italian daily 'Corriere della Sera' on the 30th of last month (local time), stating this.

Previously, the IOC banned all Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in international competitions after Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February.

Bach said, "This war was not started by Russian athletes," adding, "Russian athletes who distance themselves from the regime should be able to compete as neutral athletes. Our goal is to reinstate Russian athletes who do not support the war."

Since some sports have already started regional qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, the IOC needs to make a decision quickly if it plans to allow Russian athletes opposing the war to participate, but Bach explained that it is not an easy issue.

He said, "Some governments have independently refused to issue visas to Russian athletes regardless of the IOC," and "There are countries that do not allow their athletes to compete against Russian athletes as a form of protest against Russia."

Even if the IOC permits Russian athletes opposing the war to participate in international competitions, some countries may not comply, which could complicate the situation further, so caution is necessary.