After Ukraine told its athletes on March 30 that they should not compete against Russians or Belarusians at Olympic qualifying events, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) responded by pledging “direct support” to anyone affected by that policy.
“If implemented, such a decision would … hurt only the Ukrainian athlete community and the National Sports Federations, and in no way impact the war that the world wants to stop, and that the IOC has so vehemently condemned,” the IOC wrote in its latest update to its Q&A regarding the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions. “The IOC has always maintained that it is not up to governments to decide which athletes can participate in which international competitions.
“Therefore, if this was implemented, the athletes who want to compete and would lose the support of their National Sports Federation and their National Olympic Committee because of government interference, could count on the direct support of the Olympic Movement’s Solidarity Fund for the Olympic community of Ukraine and the athletes’ support programmes of the IOC.”
In other words, the IOC is offering to help Ukrainian athletes break their own government’s policy. It’s not the first time the IOC president Thomas Bach & Co. have clashed with Ukraine over the past few months on the issue of Russian and Belarusian participation at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the wake of their war against Ukraine, which passed the one-year mark in February.
In January, Russian and Belarusian athletes were given a pathway to Olympic qualification when the Olympic Council of Asia opened the doors for them to compete at this year’s Asian Games. The IOC came out in support of Russian and Belarusian participation as neutral athletes with no national flags or anthems, prompting criticism from Ukraine that the IOC rejected as “defamatory.” In February, Ukraine threatened to boycott the Paris 2024 Olympics if Russia and Belarus are allowed to participate, a move that the IOC called “premature” and warned would be in violation of the Olympic Charter.
Last week, World Aquatics announced it was exploring a pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to aquatic competition as neutral athletes, but the governing body won’t have a report ready until July, rendering them unable to participate in the World Championships from July 14-30 in Fukuoka. The entry deadline for Worlds is June 27.
Once again we have the oldest story in the World: An International organizing committee like world aquatics is placing its own parochial interests above the interests of the athletes.
We should have the interest of the athletes 1st, last, and always .
Get your priorities straight!
I just love how they spell out how this policy won’t change anything on the ground between Ukraine and Russia, and remain totally oblivious to the fact that that isn’t the point. The message is for you you literal blockheads…
Bach is so misguided. I get that he’s angry he wasn’t allowed to compete im Moscow but let it go, dude!
Great that you want to support Ukranian athletes, but have you asked them whether they’re ‘suffering’ because of not being allowed to compete against Russians? They’re in a war. That’s a ‘competition’ with a lot higher stakes than some swim meet… they all have family and friends putting their lives on the line against Russians right now. They are certainly suffering… but not because they can’t swim or run against Russians.
Have you asked them if they even want to compete against Russians under these circumstances?
Even with his experience in mind it’s misguided, the situation is not analogous to Bach not competing because Germany was protesting the actions of the host, it is analogous to Bach not competing because Germany was invading Poland. In the second scenario “oh no! What about the German athletes” doesn’t really come to mind, does it…
Is Mr Bach then asking that Ukrainian athletes consider breaking the law of their own country in wartime? The mind boggles.
Perhaps Bach and the IOC should visit some of the Ukrainian towns and cities destroyed by RuZZia to get a better perspective.
Send him to Mariupol to look at the swimming pool that Russia has bombed to oblivion. Captain Corruption can go along for a visit too.
Both of these comments are completely oblivious to the point he is making. He and the IOC have unequivocally condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine on multiple occasions now.
Bach and the IOC are emphasising the importance of allowing individuals who DO NOT support government imperatives (i.e. invading Ukraine, not competing against Russians etc.) the ability to compete, companied with adequate support.
We have been here before, where athletes have been sent home from competitions, or banned completely for refusing to shake hands with competitors (Egypt + Iran vs Israel in Judo). In the Iran case at least, significant pressure was put on athletes to lose or withdraw by their government. As such, this latest statement aims to protect… Read more »
The Ukrainian Government could turn around tomorrow and make it legally treason to ‘fraternise with the enemy’. What does Bach do then?
It’s up to countries like the US, GB, FRA, Ger etc to state they will follow the Ukrainian policy – that they will not, under any circumstances, compete with Russian and Belarusian Athletes.
And if needs be, make it clear that ANY further punitary retaliation by Bach against Ukraine, and they will leave the IOC.
Organisations rise. They also fall.
Notice to Mr Bach’s staff !
Please allow him full opportunity to make his heroic speeches …………. to himself in front of the bathroom mirror.
In short, send the entire IOC media apparatus on indefinite paid leave. Have the IOC communications go “on the fritz” for a similar period. If this myopic fool can be deprived of a public pulpit then he CANNOT further damage the organisation’s reputation.
An admirable fencer he may certainly have been but he is also the most politically maladroit leader since Avery Brundage.