MOSCOW, Mar 18 German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) advocated maintaining the ban on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions, according to the official website of the DOSB.
The corresponding statement of DOSB was made on Friday after the meeting in Hannover. At the same time, it is noted that the organization opposes any plans to boycott the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris because of the possible participation of Russians and Belarusians in them.
“Regardless of the decision of the IOC and international sports federations to admit Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, we reject the boycott of international competitions, in particular the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, for reasons of principle. The only victims of such a sports boycott will be athletes, who will miss perhaps the only chance to realize their Olympic dream,» the statement said.
The Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on January 25 called for the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions in a neutral status, while proposing not to allow athletes who actively supported the special operation in Ukraine. Later, the governments of more than 30 countries opposed the participation of Russians and Belarusians in the Olympics. The head of the IOC, Thomas Bach, said that state authorities should not decide who can participate in international competitions.