“They will punish their own athletes”: the NOC of Ukraine threatened to boycott the Olympics if the Russians were admitted

The possible return of Russians and Belarusians to the international sports arena has caused an angry reaction in Ukraine.

Literally the next day after the appearance of the relevant IOC communiqué, the Minister of Youth and Sports of the country, as well as the President of the National Olympic Committee, Vadim Gutzeit, made a tough statement.

He lamented that many members of the executive committee spoke in favor of the return, although some condemned this scenario.

The official promised to apply to all international organizations, “whose opinion the members of the IOC can listen to” in order to prevent this.

According to him, the position of Kyiv is unchanged: Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be in international competitions while the conflict continues in Ukraine.

The functionary did not rule out that otherwise the Ukrainian team would boycott the Olympic Games.

“Certainly, our national sports federations must strengthen communication with international ones in order for the ban to remain in force.

An example is the National Committee for Sports for the Disabled of Ukraine, which, together with partners, achieved the suspension of the membership of Russia and Belarus in the IPC,” Gutzeit added.

Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba reacted sharply to the possible return of the Russians, calling on athletes from all over the world to speak out on this topic.

The International Movement of Athletes (Global Athlete) did not stand aside either.

The association's official statement says that a possible easing of restrictions is allegedly contrary to the IOC charter and there can be no talk of it until the NWO ends.

In Russia, the threats from Kyiv were treated calmly.

So, the chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, Dmitry Svishchev, believes that in the event of a boycott of the Olympics, the Ukrainian side will strike only at its own athletes.

“After all, it is clearly stated that they should not become hostages of the governments of their countries.

But in Ukraine, officials are already deciding their fate with might and main.

I don't understand how this is possible.

The guys have been preparing for competitions all their lives.

If you don't want to go, don't go.

But to forbid to participate - in any case.

The NOC has no right to make such decisions, ”the deputy said in a comment to RT.

At the same time, he doubted that the IOC would listen to Kyiv's complaints and back down on the issue of lifting sanctions against the Russians.

“More recently, the organization's Athletes' Commission advocated that all athletes have equal access to international tournaments, regardless of nationality or skin color.

Athletes should not be held hostage by politicians.

And it is on the basis of this appeal that the IOC can allow Russians and Belarusians in a neutral status.

They even referred to the experience of the war in Yugoslavia.

Yet there are up to ten different conflicts in the world a year.

But sport has always contributed to the rapprochement of countries, ”added Svishchev.

Tatyana Tarasova, honored coach of the USSR in figure skating, agreed with him.

In her opinion, a possible boycott of the Olympics by the Ukrainian side is exclusively their problem.

In turn, the IOC on Thursday explained how the procedure for easing sanctions against Russians and Belarusians would proceed in the future.

The organization will continue bilateral consultations with federations on various sports.

“Each international federation is the sole governing body of its international competitions.

Further details can be determined only after these meetings are held, ”R-Sport quotes the IOC press service.

The first to announce the desire to return the Russians was the president of the International Judo Federation (IJF), Marius Vizer.

He called the previously introduced restrictions discrimination and recalled that domestic and Belarusian athletes do not take part in hostilities and do not participate in any political propaganda, and therefore there is nothing to punish them for.

“Sport has always been, remains and will be the most important platform for unity, solidarity and friendship.

The Olympic and sports movement is the only thing that can help in this difficult moment to establish an open dialogue and create a model of reconciliation that could inspire all parties involved to resolve existing contradictions.

I believe that the condemnation of athletes who, through their participation, obviously support peace, friendship and solidarity in the spirit of humanity, is an excessive and unacceptable measure, ”TASS quoted the official as saying.

But in the International Biathlon Union (IBU), on the contrary, they said that they were not yet ready to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to start under their auspices.

At the same time, the organization did not rule out that in the future they would change their point of view.

However, even those countries that actively supported their introduction last year, such as Norway, are in favor of lifting restrictions.

According to NRK, the head of the local athletes' committee, Astrid Jacobsen, at a meeting of the IOC executive committee, called the suspension of athletes based on the presence of a certain passport unacceptable.

Moreover, the importance of “removing barriers for sport as a unifying force” was expressed by the European Olympic Committees (EOC), which initially also called for maximum sanctions on Russia and Belarus.

Now the association considers it wrong to exclude athletes on a national basis.