Olympics-Paris 2024 organisers will abide to IOC decision
on Russia's participation
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[February 01, 2023]
By Julien Pretot
PARIS (Reuters) - Paris 2024 organisers insisted they would abide by
the International Olympic Committee's decision on Russian and
Belarusian athletes' participation in the Games after Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the governing body into banning
them from the sport's extravaganza.
Last week, the IOC said the Olympic Council of Asia had offered
Russian and Belarusian athletes the chance to compete in Asia,
drawing an outcry from Kyiv which has called for Russian
sportspeople to be banned over Russia's invasion.
Zelenskiy said that allowing Russia to compete at the 2024 Games
would be tantamount to showing that "terror is somehow acceptable".
Belarus has allowed Moscow to use its territory as a staging post of
what Russia calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Monday that
the IOC was "promoting violence, mass murders, destruction" and that
a Russian presence at the Games would constitute giving the country
"a platform to promote genocide".
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"As the conflict continues, Paris 2024 would like to express its
full solidarity with Ukraine, its people and the Ukrainian Olympic
and Paralympic movements, who are faced with an unimaginable
crisis," Paris 2024 told Reuters in a written statement on
Wednesday, stressing that the IOC had taken several measures against
Russia and Belarus.
"In response to this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has
taken a number of sanctions since February 2022 including: No
international sports event is organised or supported by an
International Federation or National Olympic Committee in Russia or
Belarus;
"No flags, anthems, colours or any other
identification of these countries are displayed at any sporting
event or meeting, including at all venues;
"No representative of the Russian government or state shall be
invited or accredited to any international sporting event or
meeting."
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Olympic rings to celebrate the IOC
official announcement that Paris won the 2024 Olympic bid are seen
in front of the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero square in Paris,
France, September 16, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
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According to Paris 2024, those
sanctions "directly or indirectly affect the participation of
Russian and Belarusian athletes in certain qualifying events for
Paris 2024".
Paris 2024 explained that their hands were tied on who could qualify
for the next Summer Games.
"With regard to the presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes at
the Paris 2024 Games, it should be recalled that the qualification
system is determined by the international federations, the IOC and
the IPC (International Paralympic Committee).
"Our wish is that the Olympic movement, the Paralympic movement and
the athletes experience the Paris 2024 Games in a spirit of peace,
respecting the values of fraternity and solidarity."
The Paris 2024 Olympics will be held from July 26-Aug. 11 and the
Paralympics from Aug. 28-Sept. 8.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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