French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed Wednesday, in an interview with the sports daily L’Equipe, that “the Russian flag cannot be present at the Olympic Games in Paris… at a time when Russia is committing war crimes.”
In response to a question about the possibility of Russian athletes participating in the Olympics individually, Macron said, “I hope that this will be a conscientious decision in the Olympic world. The host country does not have to decide what the International Olympic Committee should do.”
He added, “Of course, there cannot be a Russian flag in the Paris Olympics. I think there is a consensus on that, because Russia as a country has no place at a time when it commits war crimes and deports children.”
“The real issue that the Olympic world will have to decide on is that of these Russian athletes, some of whom have been preparing their whole lives, and who may also be victims of this system,” he added.
But how can we distinguish between Russian athletes who are accomplices of the regime and the victims? “That’s the real question,” Macron said.
He said the International Olympic Committee must make a fair decision that the Ukrainians understand, adding, “This is the balance that we have to achieve.”
2023-09-07 01:07:15
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