The decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus compete in next year’s Paris Olympic Games under a neutral flag is wrong, said Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs at a press conference held on Wednesday, the 13th of December.
According to him, the sports community and society in general still have time to make sure IOC revokes its decision. The president mentioned this topic is viewed from a moral and legal viewpoint. Rinkēvičs said it’s hard for him to imagine a situation when Russian and Belarusian athletes, who receive money from businesses and individuals under EU sanctions, participate in the Paris Olympic Games.
“The decision regarding admission to Olympic Games will be made slightly later. I fully trust Latvian Olympic Committee and other similarly-minded countries’ committees to make the correct choice. There is still time to do all we can to ensure IOC changes its decision,” said the Latvian president.
Rinkēvičs stressed that ministers responsible for sports, governments and heads of state, as well as the sports community have to formulate a plan for future actions.
The president believes Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia and other similarly-minded countries will make this decision.
The president thanked Latvian athletes who have made their position clear on the matter. According to him, athletes should make it loud and clear if they want to see Russian and Belarusian athletes competing alongside them under a neutral flag.
“If we really get to the point where no decisions are changed and we are forced to discuss this issue with other like-minded countries, it is likely that the decision will be one that is acceptable to the sports community, the public and governments alike. This is not a matter that can be decided by the government, the president or the Saeima. It has to be a decision made by athletes, the sports community based on all moral aspects,” said Rinkēvičs.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa stressed that she finds the decision by the IOC as unacceptable, adding that Latvia is in consultations with Scandinavian countries, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine in this matter. According to the PM, it’s important for countries to have unified position in order to put pressure on IOC and ensure the decision is changed.
“It is important that countries have a unified position that could facilitate the change of the IOC decision. I think that would be much fairer to athletes. The IOC’s decision to allow athletes from Belarus and Russia to participate was not correct. Therefore, it is necessary to change the decision of the IOC, not to think about how not to participate in our athletes,” said the Latvian PM.
On the 8th of December the IOC made the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to attend the 2024 Paris Olympic Games under a neutral flag.
The IOC’s prerequisites for such athletes are the same as the recommendations published in March for international sports federations and competition organisers. They state that athletes can only compete as individuals and not as team members.
Athletes and service personnel actively supporting Russian hostilities in Ukraine are not allowed to compete. Also, athletes and representatives of service personnel who are employees of Russian or Belarusian power structures are not allowed to start the competition.
Athletes must also comply with the anti-doping regulations of international federations, and flags, anthems and national symbols of these countries will not be displayed during the competition.
Also read: Latvian PM against IOC’s decision to let Russian and Belarusian athletes compete in Olympic Games
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