In response to consideration of the return of athletes from Russia and Belarus, who have been excluded from international competition due to the military invasion of Ukraine, the British government has issued a statement jointly signed by 34 countries, including Japan, to the IOC. = I asked the International Olympic Committee to clarify the definition of "neutral" as a condition for reinstatement.

On the 20th, the British government announced a statement jointly signed by 34 countries, including Japan, the United States and France.



In response to the IOC's decision last month to consider the return of Belarusian athletes, who are allies of Russia and Russia, to international competitions on the condition that they "take a neutral position that does not represent their country," the statement said, These players are supported by state funds and there are serious concerns about whether they can compete neutrally.Unless a detailed model of 'neutrality' is presented, they should not be reinstated."



After that, he emphasized that ``the two countries will open the way to return athletes to the international sports world by ending the war they started,'' and emphasized that they should not return as long as the military invasion continues.



Ministers and government officials from each country met online on the 10th of this month, and Japan's Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Nagaoka signed a statement.



On the other hand, the IOC protested on the 15th, saying, "It is not the government that decides who participates in the Games."