The Polish president expressed a clear stance on Russian athletes, stating they should not seek participation in international sports events.
He argued that while individual athletes may not be personally responsible for government actions, they are connected to the country, its banners, flags and anthems, and therefore share in the broader context surrounding their nation.
According to the president, Russia poses a burden for its athletes, who must confront that reality with resolve and decide whether to compete on the world stage under neutral terms or abstain altogether from international events.
This comes as the International Olympic Committee has signaled openness to the possibility of allowing Russian athletes who do not publicly support Russia’s actions in Ukraine to compete under a neutral status. The development was noted on January 25 when the IOC indicated it would explore such a pathway.
By February 10, a coalition of 35 countries, including the United States, Germany and Australia, convened online and pressed for the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Olympics. The group also sought a detailed clarification to determine the neutral status for Russian competitors.
Earlier, sources within the Artistic Gymnastics Federation suggested that the organization was not considering a switch to the Asian Confederation at that time.