Germany will not boycott 2024 Olympics because of Russian, Belarusian athletes

The German Olympic Sports Confederation released a statement to this effect.

Following a meeting of the Presidium, the German Olympic Sports Confederation assured that it supports the exclusion of Russians and Belarusians from international competitions, but rejected the possibility of boycotting the 2024 Olympics if representatives of the aggressor countries are allowed to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris.

"Regardless of the decision of the IOC and international sports federations to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate, we reject a boycott of international competitions, including the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, for fundamental reasons. The only victims of such a sporting boycott are the athletes who will lose what may be their only chance to fulfill their Olympic dream," the German Olympic Sports Confederation said.

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in international competitions. However, in January 2023, IOC President Thomas Bach called for their participation in the 2024 Olympics in Paris under a neutral flag. To do this, Russians and Belarusians were allowed to attend the Asian Games, where they will be able to obtain Olympic licenses.

• On March 15, Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina spoke out against the boycott of competitions involving Russians and Belarusians.

• At the same time, on March 16, the president of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, Vadym Gutzeit, said that many Ukrainian athletes support a boycott of the 2024 Olympics if Russians and Belarusians participate.