National Federations of Ukraine for Olympic sports are preparing a joint appeal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which will demand the maintenance of sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes. The IOC has already brushed aside manipulation attempts several times, including by the European Parliament. It is not very clear what Ukrainian officials are counting on this time.
Trends not in favor of Ukraine At the beginning of 2023, the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach, took a not very popular position on the issue of the return of Russians and Belarusians to international sports. The German urged to allow suspended athletes in a neutral status. Since then, the Baltic countries, Poland and the UK have tried to assemble coalitions against the IOC.
Even the European Parliament has attacked the International Olympic Committee, but Bach remains firm in his position. At times, the responses of the IOC were harsh, there was clearly visible irritation due to interference in the affairs of the organization. However, Ukrainian officials do not even think of stopping: they have prepared an appeal demanding an extension of the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes. It is expected that the official signing of the documents will take place on March 9 in Kyiv with the participation of the entire leadership of the NOC of Ukraine.
It's just not clear what they hope for. Recent trends are clearly not in favor of Ukraine. A few days ago, the African Olympic Committees supported the participation of Russians in the Paris 2024 Games. Remember the repeated statements about the unification against Russia of the whole world, which for some reason is limited only to Western countries.
A desperate step counting on the loyalty of the WestThe largest French publication L'Equipe conducted a poll, according to which approximately 72% of the French were in favor of allowing Russians to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris. According to the poll, 28% of French residents believe that Russian athletes should be allowed under their own flag. About 44% of respondents believe that athletes from Russia should be able to compete at the Games in a neutral status.
That is, almost a third of the French are not even talking about a neutral status, but about a full-fledged performance of Russia with its own flag and anthem. Indirectly, the IOC initiative to return Russia was supported by the President of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), Johan Eliash. He perfectly understands that no one is interested in cross-country skiing without Russians, and, apparently, he doesn’t want to argue with the IOC.
“I consider it important that every organization in all sports show solidarity with the IOC and support it in these difficult times. If sport is politicized, it could be the end of sport as we know it. The core values of the IOC are based on the fact that sport should not be politicized, but should be for the sake of the athletes and for the sake of the world,» Eliash is quoted by NRK.
Even in the United Kingdom they are ready to allow the Russians to participate in Wimbledon, and after all, just a year ago, the British were the only organizers of the Grand Slam tournaments who refused Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete. Against this background, the actions of the NOC of Ukraine look desperate and openly politicized.
It is obvious that the course of the IOC on the return of the Russians is not the prerogative of its head alone. Such a decision should have many supporters, and the actions of Ukrainian officials testify to their isolation from reality.
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.