Russia’s war on Ukraine has claimed the lives of 262 Ukrainian athletes and ravaged 363 sports facilities, prompting athletes to boycott any 2024 Olympic tournaments with Russia and Belarus.
Ukraine’s Youth and Sports Minister Yadym Gutzeit slammed the International Olympics Committee’s (IOC) decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to partake in international sporting events.
Last week, the IOC recommended allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate while banning anyone who actively supports Russia’s war in Ukraine, though a final decision has not yet been made.
The Ukrainian government says some Russian athletes wear uniforms with the symbols of the war but have not publicly spoken out against the killing of Ukrainian athletes.
Ukraine said on Friday that its athletes will not be allowed to participate in qualifying events for the 2024 Games if they have to compete against Russians.
“It is very important for us that there are no athletes from Russia at sports competitions and the Olympic Games, because they all support this war and attend events held in support of this war,” Gutzeit said during a meeting with Morianari Watanabe, the president of the International Federation of Gymnastics and President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak, the Kyiv Independent reported.
Over 30 countries have called on the IOC to resume its ban on Russia and Belarus from competing in international sporting events, including the upcoming 2024 games.
The IOC has recommended the gradual return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competition as neutrals but has not decided on their participation in the 2024 Olympics in Paris — a decision Ukraine has criticized.
Under the IOC’s latest decision, athletes from Russia and Belarus will be able to compete only as individual neutral athletes — teams from these countries will not be allowed to compete.
Following Russia’s invasion in February of last year, a number of Ukrainian athletes chose to take up arms in Ukraine’s defense.
Among those killed this year have been figure skater Dmytro Sharpar, who died in battle near Bakhmut, and Volodymyr Androshchuk, a 22-year-old Olympic hopeful.
With Post wires.