The Ukrainian sports world sharply condemned the decision International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the tournament. Olympic Games in Paris 2024 under a neutral flag as long as they do not “actively” support the invasion.
Sergei Stakhovskysaid the former professional tennis player and 2012 Olympic competitor. EFE Staevsky said it was unfair to allow competitors under a “neutral” flag while Ukraine was under attack.
And what kind of fair play can we talk about if our athletes have not been able to return home for two years and have to worry about their families, whom they could have killed or have already killed?
Like many other Ukrainian athletes, Stakhovsky has been fighting in his country’s defense forces since the beginning of the invasion. Having witnessed the destruction it brought to Ukraine, he did not receive a word of support from Russian or Belarusian tennis players, he said. EFE.
Sergei Stakhovsky.
According to the Ministry of Sports of Ukraine, since the beginning of the invasion, 397 athletes and coaches have been killed, and more than 500 stadiums and training centers have been damaged.
IOC decision encourages Russia
Staevsky is one of many representatives of Ukrainian sports who expressed disappointment with this decision.
Acting Minister of Sports, Matvi Bidnycalled it “irresponsible” and stressed that there was no place for “neutrality” in the face of “the bloodiest war” in Europe since World War II, in which one nation tries to destroy another.
This is stated in Bidnoy’s message.
Russia is the only country that has violated the Olympic Truce three times.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry considers the decision “wrong” and emphasizes in the note that they informed the IOC and their international partners about their risks.
There is no doubt that the Kremlin will use every Russian and Belarusian athlete as a weapon in its military propaganda, the head of the Foreign Ministry said. Dmitry Kulebaaccording to the statement.
The ministry also warns that some of the athletes planned to be allowed to compete not only sympathize with the murders of Ukrainian women and children, but may be directly involved in it because of their ties to the armed forces.
Thus, members of the IOC board of directors are responsible for encouraging Russia and Belarus to continue their aggression against Ukraine, the statement said.
The decision to boycott is under consideration
Ukrainian officials have not yet said whether their country will participate in the Olympics following calls for a boycott.
“We will make a decision later, after consultation with the Ukrainian sports community and the country’s top political figures,” says Bidny.
(according to information from EFE)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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