International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach spoke about the desire to find a balance between the situation with the acceptance of Russian athletes. His words are quoted TASS.
“We are accused of double standards regarding Russian athletes. But if you are competing in a conflict situation, that means you are trying to find at least some way out in an environment where everyone is following the same rules for all athletes,” Bach said.
He noted that the severity of sanctions against Russian athletes is due to the unprecedented situation associated with the violation of the Olympic truce.
At the end of February 2022, the IOC issued a call to international sports federations and recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes not be allowed to participate in any competitions.
At the meeting of the IOC Executive Committee on March 28, 2023, it was proposed to allow the Russians to remain in neutral status if the athletes are not actively involved in supporting military operations. The final decision on the admission of Russians to the Olympic Games has not yet been made.
Previously reportedHe said the ISU will consider accepting Russian athletes by October 8.