Ukraine aims to block the return of Russian athletes to international arenas

The war between Ukraine and Russia continues on all fronts, including the sports arena. The Ukrainian government has expressed "great concern" about the appeal made by international sports federations to admit Russian and Belarusian athletes on an individual basis to the next year's Olympic Games in Paris, said the interim Minister of Sports, Matvii Bidnii. International sports federations requested last week that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) accept Russian and Belarusian athletes to the Paris Olympics "as soon as possible" under a neutral flag. "As President Volodymyr Zelensky rightly said: "any neutral flag of Russian athletes is stained with blood,'" warned Bidnii. "We rely on a responsible decision and direction from the IOC that does not allow Russia to use sports for military propaganda," added the interim minister, who replaced Vadim Gutait, dismissed last month. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, triggered by the Russian invasion in February 2022, the IOC has postponed making a decision regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Paris Games. The solution sought by international sports federations is to admit Russian and Belarusian athletes under a neutral flag, without national uniforms and anthems. "We respect the principle of neutrality, but neutrality is only possible in peacetime," emphasized Bidnii, adding that when there is "war and one nation (...) destroys another, then "neutrality' becomes a lack of responsibility." Pressure on the IOC is increasing, and it's not only Ukraine opposing the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international arenas.