IOC Rejects Putin’s Allegations of “Ethnic Discrimination” Against Russian and Belarusian Athletes
October 20: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has firmly dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim of “ethnic discrimination” against Russian and Belarusian athletes in the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Games. On Thursday, Putin criticized the IOC, suggesting that the Olympic Games could be used as a political tool against individuals unrelated to politics. However, the IOC has refuted these allegations.
In a statement, the IOC clarified that participation in the Olympic Games is not considered a human right and that the recent amendment to the Olympic Charter is unrelated to this matter. The IOC expressed its unequivocal rejection of accusations that these measures amount to “ethnic discrimination.”
The statement read, “The strict conditions defined by the IOC in its recommendations to the International Federations for the participation of individual neutral athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports in international competitions are in compliance with the Olympic Charter. They are a response to the breach of the Olympic Charter by the Russian and Belarusian governments.”
The IOC is still in the process of making a final decision on whether athletes from Russia and Belarus, a key ally of Moscow in its actions in Ukraine, will be permitted to participate in the upcoming Summer Games.
The IOC recently suspended Russia’s National Olympic Committee due to violations of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, stemming from the recognition of regional organizations in occupied Ukrainian territories. Russia’s full-scale military offensive against Ukraine began in February 2022, with Belarus providing support by allowing Moscow’s troops to use its territory as a launching point.
This dispute highlights the complex intersection of sports and geopolitics, with the IOC playing a key role in shaping the participation of athletes from countries engaged in international conflicts.
Also Read: China and Russia Find Common Cause in Israel-Hamas Conflict
Be the first to comment