Category: Olympics

Faced with threats of withdrawals and growing animosity in the Athletes Village, organizers of the Winter Paralympics on Thursday reversed course and expelled athletes from Russia and Belarus.

The about-face came less than 24 hours after the International Paralympic Committee announced it would allow Russians and Belarusians to compete when the Games open on Friday, but only as neutral athletes with colours, flags and other national symbols removed because of the invasion of Ukraine. …

CBC

Russia will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

While I feel awful for innocent athletes who qualified all the way up until Opening Ceremonies now being dropped, I probably would have voted the same way.

Military response risks nuclear war. Therefore those who do not support Russia invading other nations must protest in every other non-violent way. Putin loves sport and will certainly take this ban seriously.

The Olympic Movement is united in its mission to contribute to peace through sport …

At the same time, the Olympic Movement is united in its sense of fairness not to punish athletes for the decisions of their government …

The current war in Ukraine, however, puts the Olympic Movement in a dilemma. While athletes from Russia and Belarus would be able to continue to participate in sports events, many athletes from Ukraine are prevented from doing so because of the attack on their country. …

… with a heavy heart, issued the following resolution:

… recommends that International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions. …

… decision to withdraw the Olympic Order from all persons who currently have an important function in the government of the Russian Federation or other government-related high-ranking position, including the following:

1. Mr Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation (Gold, 2001)
2. Mr Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation (Gold, 2014)
3. Mr Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office (Gold, 2014)

… The IOC admires and supports in particular the calls for peace by Russian athletes.

IOC EB recommends no participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials

IOC Executive Board urges all International Federations to relocate or cancel their sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus.

IOC strongly condemns the breach of the Olympic Truce