PACE urges to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from 2024 Olympics

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Tiny Kox said this at an open hearing on the suspension of athletes from Russia and Belarus from the 2024 Olympics, Ukrinform reports.  

“The decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris in the context of Russia's large-scale aggressive war against Ukraine is considered by many to be not only contrary to the mission of Olympism to promote peace. Instead, it will empower and serve the aggressor's propaganda purposes,” Kox said.

He emphasized that for many people, the participation of Russians and Belarusians in the Olympic Games is unacceptable. 

PACE president pointed out that many Russian athletes are members of the Russian armed forces or intelligence services, so it is completely unthinkable to admit them given the tragic loss of thousands of Ukrainian lives, the serious war crimes committed by the Russian army in Ukraine, and the pain and suffering that this aggression continues to cause on a daily basis.

He also emphasized that many member states of the Council of Europe oppose the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Olympics. 

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the IOC 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. For this purpose, Russians and Belarusians were allowed to attend the Asian Games, where they will be able to obtain Olympic licenses. 

• On January 27, Thomas Bach said that he favored the participation of Russians and Belarusians in the 2024 Olympics, despite Ukraine's threats to boycott the Games. 

• January 29 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces that he has written a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron over the possible admission of Russians to the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

• On February 20, 34 countries supported the demand to suspend athletes from Russia and Belarus from the Olympics. 

• On February 21, the IOC called the European Parliament's resolution demanding that Russians and Belarusians be banned from international competitions contrary to the mission of the Olympic Games. 

• On March 30, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers decided that Ukrainian athletes will boycott tournaments featuring athletes from Russia or Belarus.