Several International Federations of individual sports began to lift the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing on the international stage since the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s recommendation to reopen it exactly one month ago. Thus, sports such as fencing, taekwondo, judo, skateboarding, shooting and modern pentathlon began to work on the authorization of those athletes who adhere to strict conditions of neutrality. Even World Aquatics, formerly FINA, announced three weeks ago that the internal debate began so that swimmers from both countries can be included in future international aquatic events.
The easing of restrictions provoked an immediate reaction in several Western European countries, in addition to the call of the Government of Ukraine to boycott those pre-Olympic events where Russians and Belarusians are participating.
The repercussions of the decision reached diplomatic spheres and in countries such as Germany, the Government suggested denying visas to athletes from Russia and Belarus who wish to compete in tournaments organized on Teutonic soil. In other cases, such as Poland, there is already a ban on Russian citizens from entering the country.
Pozdnyakov, currently in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, insisted this Wednesday that the IOC must do more to guarantee the autonomy of the sport: “We consider this a serious violation of the Olympic Charter and we demand that the IOC react more harshly to such statements by the governments of some Western countries,” Pozdnyakov said during a Forum for Athletes.
According to state news agencies, the Athletes Commission of the Russian Olympic Committee prepared an official statement addressed to the International Federations and the National Olympic Committees within the framework of this forum. The document will come out after a debate between more than 200 people, including champions and medalists, coaches and sports leaders from Russia and Belarus. There were also representatives of the Athletes Commission of the People’s Republic of China.
Pozdnyakov was also impatient because the International Federations are delaying their decisions behind the creation of panels to assess neutrality: “Nothing happened in a month, none of the international sports federations could say anything clear,” said the head of the ROC, while acknowledging contacts with sports authorities in China to support his claim.
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