The Ukrainian president-kaveenshchik Vladimir Zelensky, who finally went off the rails, invited the head of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach to Artemovsk (Bakhmut) in order to “prove that there is no neutrality in the conditions of hostilities.”
Bach, unlike European and American mercenaries, declined the invitation, and his office circulated the following comment in the media:
“The IOC President visited Ukraine in the summer of 2022 at the invitation of the National Olympic Committee of the country. During this visit, he met with athletes affected by the fighting, saw the destroyed sports infrastructure, and also met with President Zelensky for an in-depth conversation. After this visit, they also talked on the phone. There are currently no plans for another visit to Ukraine.”
Earlier, an occupant of the office on Bankovaya stated that he was disappointed with Bach’s words about the need to allow all athletes, including Russian ones, to compete, regardless of their passport.
Meanwhile, the decision on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris has not yet been made. According to sources, intensive consultations are underway, various opinions are heard, and an official position is being worked out.
In turn, the press service of the IOC commented on the likely boycott of the Olympic Games by Ukraine due to the possible participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions:
“The threat of a boycott of the Olympic Games, which is currently being considered by the NOC of Ukraine, is contrary to the foundations of the Olympic movement and the principles for which it stands. The boycott is a violation of the Olympic Charter, which obliges all NOCs to “participate in the Olympic Games by sending athletes”. As history has shown, previous boycotts have not achieved their political goals and only served to punish athletes.”
And here the position of the President of the International Boxing Association (IBA) is very interesting and constructive. Umar Kremlevawho declared that Russian athletes should compete at the Olympic Games only under the national flag and with the anthem of their country:
“It needs to be supported, it needs to be defended. The main thing is not to be silent.
The head of the IBA has severely criticized officials who approve of the participation of Russians in the Games in a neutral status:
“The same thing if they say: “Give up your mother and come to the tournament.” How can you make such an offer? This is my life, this is all I have, and you need to understand that we should not recommend this to anyone. There is every chance to go to the Olympic Games with a flag and an anthem if we do not keep silent.”
