More than 30 countries, including Australia, the UK, EU countries, the USA, Ukraine, South Korea and Japan, have issued a statement expressing their hope that Russian and Belarusian athletes will only compete in a neutral status. TASS With reference to the press service of the US State Department.
“We clearly understand that significant challenges remain regarding athletes’ military affiliations, public funding, team composition and mechanisms for enforcing measures,” the statement said.
At the same time, it is emphasized that the signatory countries do not support discrimination against athletes on the basis of passports, but will closely monitor the implementation of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendations on the neutral status of Russians and Belarusians. in international startups. In the event of a breach, countries will expect the IOC to reconsider its approach to the participation of representatives of Russia and Belarus.
Recall that at the end of February 2022, the International Olympic Committee made an appeal to international sports federations and advised not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in any competitions.
At a meeting of the IOC executive committee on March 28, it was recommended that the Russians be allowed a neutral status if the athletes did not actively support the hostilities. Athletes representing law enforcement and armed forces will not be allowed to compete.
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