The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is facing criticism from several countries, including Poland and its Baltic neighbors, over its proposal to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the upcoming Olympic Games under a neutral flag. The sports ministers of these countries issued a joint statement on February 2, 2025, expressing their opposition to the IOC's decision, arguing that it legitimizes Russia's and Belarus's actions in Ukraine and distracts from the ongoing conflict.
Last week, the IOC announced a multi-step plan for the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes, emphasizing that no athlete should be disqualified solely based on their performance. The Polish Sports and Tourism Minister, Kamil Bortniczuk, shared his skepticism about this plan in an interview with Reuters. Bortniczuk, who is expected to attend a meeting with more than 30 or even 40 sports ministers, believes that a boycott of the Olympic Games could weaken its organizers if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to participate.
The participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in global sports events has been a contentious issue since the 2014 annexation of Crimea. Many international sports organizations have excluded these athletes from participating due to recommendations by the IOC. This past week, the IOC clarified that Russian and Belarusian athletes would compete as neutrals if they were to participate in the Olympic Games. This decision was praised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which urged the IOC to make this choice and ensure that no athlete is discriminated against based on their nationality.
The White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, expressed no concerns about individual Russian or Belarusian athletes participating in the Olympics as long as it is crystal clear that they do not represent their home nations. However, the IOC has faced heavy criticism from Ukrainian figures such as tennis player Elena Svitolina and former boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, who won gold for Ukraine at the 1996 Olympic Games.
Svitolina stated that the IOC must prohibit the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes to send a strong message to the world, signaling collective unity against sanctions against Russia and Belarus for their atrocities. This week, the IOC criticized Svitolina's comments as "defamatory" and warned that they could not serve as a foundation for constructive discussions.
As CNN contacted the IOC regarding possible threats of a boycott, it referred to a statement on its website reiterating its support for Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia and Belarus. The IOC emphasized that threats of boycotts violate the principles of the Olympics, which require nations to send athletes to the games.
The IOC has yet to discuss the participation of Russian or Belarusian athletes in the Paris Olympic Games, scheduled for 2024. In a Q&A statement, the IOC affirmed that no decision on their participation had been made.
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The current stance of various countries, including Poland, on allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the upcoming Olympic Games is complex and divided. Here is a summary of the positions:
- Poland and Baltic States:
- Criticism of IOC: Poland and the Baltic states (Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia) have criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for considering allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a neutral flag. They argue that this legitimizes Russia's and Belarus's actions in Ukraine and distracts from the ongoing conflict.
- Joint Statement: The sports ministers of these countries issued a joint statement on February 2, 2025, expressing their opposition to the IOC's decision. They emphasized the need for justice and accountability for war crimes and genocide committed by Russia and Belarus.
- United States:
- Neutral Status: The United States has indicated support for allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals in the Olympics, but with no display of national flags or emblems. However, this stance is not universally accepted, and some countries remain critical of the IOC's handling of the situation.
- International Olympic Committee (IOC):
- Current Position: The IOC has backtracked on its initial decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a neutral flag. As of now, the IOC has stated that sporting sanctions on Russia and Belarus are "not negotiable," meaning that these athletes will not be allowed to display national flags or emblems and will not participate in the parade of athletes at the opening ceremony.
- Athlete Perspective:
- Krystsina Tsimanouskaya: A Belarusian athlete who defected from her national team in 2021 due to political reasons, Tsimanouskaya has expressed her disapproval of Belarusian athletes competing under the current national flag. She believes that representing Belarus at the Olympics means representing the Belarusian government, which she opposes.
In summary, while some countries like the United States are open to allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals, Poland and the Baltic states strongly oppose this decision, viewing it as a legitimization of Russia's and Belarus's actions in Ukraine. The IOC has taken a more cautious stance, maintaining that sporting sanctions against Russia and Belarus are non-negotiable.
