News that the International Olympic Committee will allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at international competitions has angered athletes from Ukraine and around the world. Many have pledged to fight the controversial decision.
On Tuesday, the IOC issued advice allowing Russians and Belarusians to compete in the future as “neutral” athletes without flags or other nationality indications, provided that they However, the IOC stopped short of giving a final answer on whether athletes from those countries would be allowed to participate in next year’s Paris Olympics, adding that “the IOC will make a decision in time.” appropriate at its full discretion.”
Dozens of athletes and Olympians immediately came out against the decision. This included two-time Olympic skeletal competitor Vladislav Heraskevich, who condemned the advice. He was “absolutely wrong” in a conference call on Wednesday.
Moscow “uses sport as an additional brainwashing to persuade people … if they don’t face stricter punishment. They were just empty words,” Heraskevich said. “There is a statement about building a sports bridge. We have been trying to build a bridge for eight years. It is terrible to understand that the war actually started in 2014 when Russia hosted the Olympics. Our land has been occupied. It is clear that the Olympic Games enhance Russia’s image to a very high extent.”
In response to a question from The Daily Beast, Heraskevich lamented the “Comments and messages on social media,” which he and other Ukrainian athletes Said they saw Russian rivals backing the war in Ukraine. “It’s very disappointing for us. and especially for me They were extremely shocked when they were motionless. not support war or participate in activities (propaganda)”
“That’s not the future we want,” he added.
Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko shared similar concerns.
“Since the beginning of the war They published information on the tour to say it was the right thing to do. Russia is the best and strongest country in the world,” she said. So what else is ok? Why is no one talking about discrimination against Ukrainians? We only hear about the discrimination of Russians and Belarusians.”
‘Day of Shame’
Others, such as Estonian biologist and three-time Olympian Johanna Talihärm, have been fired back by UN Special Rapporteur Alexandra Xanthaki’s comments at this week’s virtual summit.
“I don’t think it makes sense to isolate the entire Russian military and the entire Russian army,” Xanthaki reportedly said during the meeting. This angered some of the athletes attending the conference. including biologists
According to Taliharm, a UN adviser interrupted her as she shared her views on the IOC’s decision, saying it was time to “move on” to another topic.
“The most important point is Alexandra’s impolite communication. Santagi to athletes,” Taliharm said in comments to The Daily Beast, adding, “She didn’t mention (rights of Ukrainian athletes) at all.”
Talihärm emphasizes the manner in which sports federations Acknowledging the Olympic recommendations will be an “important” part of evaluating the IOC’s decision, she pointed out that “Historically, rarely has anyone challenged their opinions … and if sport does not follow the rules of the Olympic movement, Sports risk being removed from the Olympics So there is a lot of pressure to follow the rules and guidelines.”
The IOC did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast at the time of publication.
It’s not just athletes who take issue with the IOC’s proclamation and the words of IOC President Thomas Bach, who said: “Sports organizations are solely responsible for deciding which athletes can compete internationally. can for political reasons or because of passports.”
Government officials from Poland czech republic and other countries has strongly condemned the public announcement including Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk, who called it a “Day of Shame” for the IOC on Twitter
On the other hand, the head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, condemned the suggestion that “Discrimination” despite criticism from athletes and government officials around the world who found the advice to be too lax.
meanwhile Ukrainian athletes have to grapple with the consequences of IOC decisions.
“It’s an ethical contradiction,” tennis player Tsurenko said at a conference on Wednesday of the possibility of being forced to compete with Russian athletes. “I have a panic attack.”
