Verkhovna Rada Committee proposes to appeal to international community to boycott participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in Olympics

Verkhovna Rada Committee on Youth and Sports says in the statement.

"It seems that both President Bach and the majority of Executive Committee of International Olympic Committee members have forgotten both values ​​of Olympism and humanistic ideals laid down in the Olympic Charter by the founder of the modern Olympic movement, Pierre de Coubertin. Whether promotion of violence, torture, rape, shootings and murders, which Russian sports gladly supports, are these new ideals of the modern Olympic movement?!" stated in the statement.

Deputies emphasized that in Russia and Belarus, sport does not exist outside of politics – it is its continuation:

"These terrorist countries are inclined in any way to create false impression of true goal of their policy, using athletes as ideological weapon to implement their xenophobic propaganda, to strengthen fighting spirit of Russian army and zombified Russian people, and to influence decisions of other states regarding support of Ukraine in the fight for their Freedom, Independence and European choice".

With the beginning of full-scale war against Ukraine, the doors of world sports closed in the face of Russia and Belarus. And they should continue to be closed. After all, sport is age-old heritage of civilized world, which Russia and Belarus have ceased to be a part of:

"Not to feel the sweet taste of victory on high international podiums, but to taste all joys of exile and isolation together with their terrorist countries - this is what Russian and Belarusian athletes really deserve. And in general, why do they need international sports, the Olympics, - Western world they constantly so sincerely curse?! There is no question of neutrality as long as Russians continue war, the purpose of which is genocide of Ukrainian people. Any neutral flag and uniform is soaked in blood of dead Ukrainians from Kharkiv and Chernihiv  ... Irpin and Bucha... Mariupol and Kherson... Bakhmut and Soledar..."

Latest events in international sports circles, statements of International Olympic Committee and Olympic Council of Asia are insult to the memory of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens who died during Russian full-scale invasion:

"Today, Ukrainian sportsmen with weapons in their hands protect their relatives and Motherland from Russians. More than 220 Ukrainian sportsmen have already died from bullets and shells. Russian shelling and missile strikes, in particular from the territory of Belarus, take lives of Ukrainians every day, who could have become known to the whole world  athletes, scientists, doctors, teachers and just honest, sincere and hardworking citizens of their country. Now we see how step by step Russian and Belarusian propaganda is trying to seep outside, into international competitions."

The very appearance of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the highest-level sports competitions is a signal to the international community that demonstrates the world's gradual acceptance of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

"We cannot allow this to happen! That is why we categorically oppose such initiatives and submit a proposal for Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to appeal to parliaments of the countries of the world, International Olympic Committee, national Olympic committees and international sports federations. We also oppose the boycott of participation of Ukrainian athletes in the Olympic Games, because to take the path of boycott is to show weakness and give international sports platforms to murderers, terrorists and rapists".

Deputies emphasize that they will defend position of complete and unconditional isolation of the aggressor, including a complete ban on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international sports competitions, including the Olympic Games, until the end of Russian armed aggression against Ukraine, including withdrawal of troops  from the entire territory of Ukraine and resolving the issue of compensation by Russian Federation for damages caused to Ukraine.

• On January 27, head of IOC, Thomas Bach, stated that he is in favor of participation of Russians and Belarusians in the 2024 Olympics, even despite Ukraine's threat to boycott the Games.