US Supports Participation Amid Ukraine's Objection
Macron: "Sports Should Not Be Politicized"
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] With just about one year and six months left until the 2024 Paris Olympics in France, attention is focused on the possibility of Russian athletes participating. As the war between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing for nearly a year, a debate has arisen over whether it is appropriate to restrict Russian athletes from participating in international sporting events, which symbolize peace. While Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is pushing for Russian athletes to compete, the United States has expressed support, but opinions remain divided within Europe.
◆ IOC Maintains Sanctions on Russia but Views Athlete Participation as 'Separate'
According to the Associated Press, the IOC held an executive board meeting on the 25th (local time) and issued a statement. Previously, on the 9th of last month, the IOC executive board held the 11th Olympic Summit and discussed the dilemma arising from restricting Russian and Belarusian athletes' participation, which conflicted with the principle that "all athletes must be protected from political interference." The meeting on this day was held to further discuss this issue.
The IOC stated that the discussions covered three main areas: sanctions against the states and governments of Russia and Belarus, solidarity with Ukrainian athletes, and the possibility of athletes holding Russian and Belarusian passports participating in sporting events. The IOC announced that sanctions against the states and governments of Russia and Belarus should be strengthened and that solidarity with Ukrainian athletes and Olympic committees was unanimously supported.
However, the IOC judged that banning athletes from participating in the Olympics solely because they hold Russian or Belarusian passports contradicts the IOC's mission to unite the world through peaceful competition. The IOC emphasized that "a path must be sought for athletes to compete under strict conditions."
The IOC stated that under the Olympic Charter, all athletes must be treated without discrimination and will compete as 'neutral athletes,' not representing their countries. However, athletes must not engage in actions contrary to the IOC's peace mission regarding the Ukraine war and must fully comply with the World Anti-Doping Code to be eligible to participate.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, the IOC issued a statement recommending the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from hosting and participating in international sporting events. However, since the second half of last year, internal debates within the IOC have taken place regarding whether Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to compete in the Olympics.
In a statement released after the Olympic Summit in December last year, the IOC also emphasized that on December 1st, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on 'Sport for Sustainable Development.' The resolution states that international sporting events must be conducted based on the spirit of peace and that the nature of these events, which promote unity and reconciliation, must be respected. The resolution was passed unanimously by the UN General Assembly, including Russia and Ukraine.
Thomas Bach, the IOC President, is leading this stance. Since last year, he has publicly expressed the opinion that Russian athletes should be allowed to compete. In an interview with an Italian daily in September last year, he said, "This war was not started by Russian athletes," and added, "Russian athletes who distance themselves from the regime should be able to compete as neutral athletes." He reiterated and emphasized the IOC's position from the Olympic Summit in his 2023 New Year's address at the end of last year.
◆ Ukraine: "No Participation"... Russia Actively Moves Forward
Ukraine strongly opposes Russian participation in international sporting events. Ukraine's position is that Russia is attempting a form of 'sports washing' to cleanse the negative image of having started the war by using the Olympics and other international sporting events. Ukraine has criticized that more than 180 Ukrainian athletes have died due to Russia since the war broke out in February last year.
According to AFP and other sources, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, the host of the Paris Olympics, on the 24th, wrote on Telegram that he "emphasized that Russian athletes should not participate in the Paris Olympics." He also argued last month that Russian athletes should be completely isolated.
On the other hand, Russia is making moves to participate in international sporting events. Following the attendance of a Russian Olympic Committee official at the Olympic Summit hosted by the IOC last month, the Russian government has expressed a desire for positive relations with international sports organizations.
According to the Associated Press, Aleksandr Alayev, Vice President of the Russian Football Union, held a three-hour meeting with officials from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) on the 24th. Currently, Russian athletes have been unable to participate in competitions organized by UEFA and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) since the Ukraine war began. Russia withdrew from UEFA last year and announced plans to join the Asian Football Confederation but has since backtracked and is now discussing matters with UEFA. Russian news agency TASS reported that both sides plan to hold a follow-up meeting next month.
◆ US Supports, Europe Divided
World major countries have shown mixed reactions regarding Russia's return to international sporting events. First, in December last year, the United States expressed support for Russia's return. Juliane Ryans, Chair of the United States Olympic Committee, told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in an interview that she supports Russian and Belarusian athletes participating in the Paris Olympics as long as they do not compete under their national flags. This marked a shift in the US stance, which had criticized Russian athletes' participation amid doping scandals at the Beijing Winter Olympics last year.
Europe, meanwhile, has shown divided opinions. French President Emmanuel Macron, of the host country, said last year, "Sport should not be politicized. These major events are intended to accept athletes from all countries, sometimes even those at war," adding, "I believe this must be upheld as a way for people who do not usually communicate to find ways to discuss through sport." This is interpreted as a positive stance toward Russian athlete participation.
However, WSJ reported on the 24th that "European powers are weighing Russia's return to international competitions," noting that major European countries such as Germany, Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom have not issued separate statements. The German Olympic Committee acknowledged, "We realize we are in a fundamental dilemma regarding the boycott," and said, "Since the essence of sport is unity, not division, discussions are ongoing about meeting again to compete peacefully."
Nevertheless, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden have clearly opposed the return of Russian athletes to international competitions. The Estonian Olympic Committee pointed out, "Ukrainian athletes must protect their homes and families on the front lines and cannot train or compete," adding, "Given this situation, it is difficult to see Ukrainian and Russian athletes as being on equal footing, so we cannot discuss the fundamental values of our sport."
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