Belarusian Sports Minister Sergei Kovalchuk said at the “Russia is a sports power” forum that almost all of the country’s athletes should serve in the army. His words are quoted TASS.
“If previously a very large category of athletes in our country had the opportunity to be exempt from military service, today this opportunity does not exist in our country. Today almost everyone needs to serve. “I’m also a soldier, there was a reserve option, but we don’t even consider it as an alternative,” said Kovalchuk.
At the end of February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) appealed to international sports federations, recommending that domestic and Belarusian athletes should not be allowed to participate in any competitions due to the political situation.
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. Athletes representing law enforcement agencies and armed forces will not be allowed to compete.
Elena Vyalbe, formerly president of FLGR accused Governors in the problems of Russian sport.