Ukraine will not refuse to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris due to the admission of Russian athletes, the country’s acting Minister of Youth and Sports Matvey Bidny said. Previously, the functionary allowed a possible boycott
According to the acting Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Matvey Bidny, the Olympics are a powerful platform to promote one’s position in the world. “There is no point in losing such a platform; I also consider it inappropriate to withdraw myself,” RIA Novosti quotes Bidnoy as saying with reference to the Rada TV channel.
Bidny also added that Ukraine has just over six months to do everything to prevent Russians from attending the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Earlier, December 10, Bidny pointed out the possibility of a boycott of the 2024 Olympics by Ukraine if they see “the unconstructive position of the IOC, which will support the participation of Russians.” Bidny also called the IOC decision “irresponsible” and said that the final decision on Ukraine’s participation in the Games will be made after consultations with the Ukrainian sports community and the country’s top political leadership.
On Friday, December 8, the IOC allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus, who have successfully qualified in their sports, to participate in the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris as individual neutral athletes (AIN).
It is noted that among the 4,600 athletes from all over the world who qualified for Paris 2024, only 11 individual neutral athletes – eight Russians and three Belarusians. The names of the athletes were not disclosed in the IOC release. For comparison, to date more than 60 Ukrainian athletes have qualified for Paris 2024.
In March 2023, the IOC Executive Committee recommended that international federations should allow Russians to participate in competitions individually, in a neutral status, without participating in team competitions types It was also noted that athletes who are associated with the Russian and Belarusian armed forces or national security agencies, as well as those who support the “special operation”* in Ukraine, cannot participate in international competitions.
In October, the IOC Executive Committee suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) until further notice in connection with the inclusion of the Olympic Councils of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. The suspension means that the ROC can no longer function as a national Olympic committee and receive funding from the Olympic movement. Despite this, recommendations for the admission of Russian athletes remain in force, and the IOC has reserved the right to make decisions on the admission of neutral athletes to the Olympics in Paris (2024) and Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (2026) at the necessary time, closer to the Games .
The Olympic Games in Paris will take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024. The opening ceremony of the Games is to take place on the Seine River, along which the national teams will sail through the center of Paris on boats. The Paralympic Games will take place from August 28 to September 8.
Source : Forbes.ru
