In a letter sent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Baltic Olympic committees request an explanation for the organisation’s decision to let Russian and Belarusian athletes compete in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, as confirmed by Latvian Olympic Committee (LOK).
LOK reports that after the decision by IOC to let Russian and Belarusian athletes compete in the upcoming Paris Olympics, “LOK started working on getting more information on the matter, which includes requesting information from IOC on the reasons why this decision was made, and working closely with other Olympic committees to formulate a single opinion, especially based on the opinion of Ukraine”.
LOK also considers if any athletes could decide on their own to boycott to Olympics.
Baltic Olympic committees have sent a letter to IOC, stressing therein that letting Russian and Belarusian athletes compete in the Olympics is an unacceptable step. Baltic States therefore ask the International Olympic Committee to provide explanations to them and the international community regarding this decision and how it was made.
“We believe such a decision is unacceptable while there is a war in Ukraine and civilians suffer from Russian war crimes. And Belarus supports all that,” the letter prepared by LOK mentions.
LOK also asks IOC to explain how it is planned to determine which of Russian and Belarusian athletes are against the war and which have ties to military structure in order to exclude any inappropriate behaviour.
Eight countries – Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway – maintain close communication and coordinate their opinion on this situation.
LOK believes Ukraine’s opinion is important the most. A large number of this country’s athletes, including the football team, have already qualified for 2024 Paris Olympics.
LOK notes that Ukraine can choose not to compete in the same sports as athletes from Russia and Belarus or choose to compete against them and use the publicity from Olympic Games for political promotion.
At the same time, LOK reminds that the Olympic Charter obliges national Olympic committees to participate in the Olympic Games by sending athletes to the games and to resist pressure that may prevent them from adhering to the Olympic Charter.
In support of Ukraine, LOK stresses that its main goal is “the participation of the Ukrainian team in the Paris Olympic Games with full support currently available, as well as ensuring that athletes with both Russian and Belarusian passports do not participate in the Paris Olympic Games”.
At the same time, LOK adds that IOC’s decision does not change LOK’s opinion. “LOK condemns Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, as well as the ongoing terror and inhumane violence against the Ukrainian population, as well as other military conflicts that have resulted in population suffering.”
Also read: Latvian president expects bigger pressure on IOC amid decision to let Russian and Belarusian athletes attend Paris Olympics
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