Talk about neutrality: how the discussion between the IOC and Western countries around Russian athletes is developing

The countries of the collective West do not abandon their attempts to influence the position of the International Olympic Committee.

So, last week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the decision of the IOC to consider the possibility of allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to qualify for the 2024 Games under a neutral flag.

Moreover, MEPs called for putting pressure on the IOC to change the course chosen at the end of last year.

And the Czech Olympic Committee even decided to seek the help of lawyers to study the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Olympic Charter.

In turn, on February 20, sports ministers and other high-ranking representatives of 35 countries, including the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany and Canada, sent a joint letter to the IOC, in which they asked to decipher the concept of "neutrality".

“We are seriously concerned about the acceptability of the participation of Olympic athletes from Russia and Belarus in a neutral status - subject to the conditions of the IOC not to identify themselves with their country - in a situation where they receive direct financial support and assistance from these countries (unlike, for example, professional tennis players ).

The strong ties between Russian athletes and the Russian military also raise understandable concerns.

Our common position has always been the inadmissibility of discrimination on the basis of nationality, but these concerns must be resolved within the framework of the IOC, ”the message says.

Also, the signatories once again asked the IOC to reconsider its position on the admission of Russians and Belarusians to the competition.

“Until these fundamental questions and the problem of a significant lack of clarity and specific details regarding the suitability of the “neutrality” model are resolved, we do not agree that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to return to competition.

Noting the position stated by the IOC that final decisions have not yet been made, we urge the IOC to consider the issues put forward for discussion by all countries and revise its proposal accordingly,” the letter says.

However, for IOC President Thomas Bach, who has often compared the committee with the UN, it seems that the opinion of this particular organization is much more important.

And there they made it clear: the removal of Russians and Belarusians from the Olympics would violate human rights and in no way affect the resolution of the military conflict.

This is what is primarily indicated in the official statement of the committee, which on Tuesday, February 21, was updated for the fourth time in a week.

In particular, it added responses to a letter from the “collective group of nations” and to a resolution of the European Parliament.

“The IOC appreciates the constructive questions regarding the determination of the neutral status of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport, while noting that the clear human rights concerns expressed by the two special rapporteurs of the UN Human Rights Council were not addressed in the statement,” the statement says. .

In addition, the organization recalled that back in December last year, the leaders of all stakeholders of the Olympic Movement established common theses regarding the issue of neutrality.

They haven't changed in two months.

“Since then, detailed consultations have continued to define these principles in more detail.

In this context, the constructive issues set out in the statement will be duly taken into account,” the committee said in a statement.

We decided to respond to the IOC and the former world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

In an interview with German media, he stated that Bach is not neutral and represents Russia's interests, not Olympic values.

“Fulfilling its mission to unite the world in sports competitions and upholding the charter does not make the IOC an accomplice of Russia.

You can be in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian Olympic community, not agreeing with everything they call for, ”the organization’s website says.

At the same time, the IOC softens all statements with the phrase that a decision on the Russians and Belarusians has not yet been made.

And everything will finally become clear closer to the summer.

But one must understand that for Bach now the struggle for the neutral status of athletes is important from a political point of view.

Experts note that if it "bends" under the pressure of politicians, then the committee can no longer be called independent.

He was not considered such by many before, but in the event of a "defeat" this time, the organization can definitely be put an end to.

This opinion, in particular, was expressed by the Olympic champion of Turin and State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova.

“If the appeal turns out to be effective, then the IOC may end its existence, it can no longer be considered an independent organization.

By exerting such pressure, the European Parliament is digging a big hole for the IOC, because giving in to pressure is admitting that you are not independent, ”TASS quoted her as saying.

This is well understood in the committee itself.

Otherwise, it is difficult to explain the appearance in the official release, including philosophical reflections.

“History will show who does more for the world - those who try to maintain connections, or those who advocate isolation and separation.

The IOC and the Olympic Movement have demonstrated this with great success in the past.

Just a few recent examples are our work with North Korea and South Korea, Israel and Palestine, Kosovo and many others,” the IOC said in a statement.