05 Apr 2023 – IOC News
The following Q&A addresses the current situation after the IOC issued recommendations for International Federations and international sports event organisers on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions, following a request by the Olympic Summit. This Q&A was first published on 31 March 2023, with the latest update on 5 April 2023. It replaces the Q&As which were published first in early February and have been updated regularly until their replacement by this new version.
(Added on 5 April 2023) How does the IOC comment on the decree by the Ukrainian government to deprive National Sports Federations of their national status should their athletes participate against athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport and the impact this will have for the athletes?This raises serious questions about the autonomy of Ukrainian sport.
If implemented, such a decision would a) hurt only the Ukrainian athlete community and the National Sports Federations, and in no way impact the war that the world wants to stop, and that the IOC has so vehemently condemned. The IOC has always maintained that it is not up to governments to decide which athletes can participate in which international competitions.
If implemented, such a decision would b) also go against the position of a number of Ukrainian athletes and other members of the Ukrainian Olympic community. Just recently, the Ukrainian Tennis Federation said in a statement: “With this appeal, we express a common position regarding the possible decision of the NOC on a complete boycott by the players of all international tournaments where Russians or Belarusians play. Such a decision will lead to the destruction of Ukrainian tennis, because players from these countries take part in almost every competition, and will become a sanction not against the Russians, but against the Ukrainians. If Russians and Belarusians are allowed to compete, you need to play with them and win, and not avoid the battle.”The IOC has always followed and will also follow in this case its policy to protect the athletes. Therefore, if this was implemented, the athletes who want to compete and would lose the support of their National Sports Federation and their National Olympic Committee because of government interference, could count on the direct support of the Olympic Movement’s Solidarity Fund for the Olympic community of Ukraine and the athletes’ support programmes of the IOC.
(Amended on 5 April 2023) What is the IOC’s reaction to the decision by the Ukrainian government to bar Ukrainian athletes from taking part in qualifying events for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 if they have to compete against athletes with a Russian passport?The IOC has taken note of the decision by the Ukrainian government to bar Ukrainian athletes from taking part in qualifying events for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 if they have to compete against athletes with a Russian passport. In this context, we also refer you to the statement by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), which is the umbrella body for all 206 NOCs.If implemented, such a decision would hurt only the Ukrainian athlete community, and in no way impact the war that the world wants to stop, and that the IOC has so vehemently condemned. The IOC has always maintained that it is not up to governments to decide which athletes can participate in which international competitions.
If implemented, such a decision would also go against the position of a number of Ukrainian athletes and other members of the Ukrainian Olympic community. Just recently, the Ukrainian Tennis Federation said in a statement: “With this appeal, we express a common position regarding the possible decision of the NOC on a complete boycott by the players of all international tournaments where Russians or Belarusians play. Such a decision will lead to the destruction of Ukrainian tennis, because players from these countries take part in almost every competition, and will become a sanction not against the Russians, but against the Ukrainians. If Russians and Belarusians are allowed to compete, you need to play with them and win, and not avoid the battle.” In tennis, Ukrainian athletes compete against individual neutral athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport on a weekly, if not daily, basis.
Furthermore, several Ukrainian athletes from other sports have already stated that they oppose any boycotts.
Due to the fact that there are unfortunately far too many wars, armed conflicts and crises in this world, we have seen in almost all editions of the Games athletes compete with each other despite the fact that their nations are at war or in conflict. Currently, there are 70 ongoing armed conflicts, wars or crises around the world, including the situations in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and the southern Caucasus. NOCs in the regions impacted by these armed conflicts and wars are following the principles of the Olympic Charter. They are not requesting the exclusion of athletes from the other party in the armed conflict or war, and they are allowing their athletes to compete in international sporting competitions without restrictions. One example is Yemen. According to UNICEF, eight years of fierce conflict, economic collapse and a battered social support system have devastated Yemen and left around 11 million children in need of humanitarian assistance. Some 2.2 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition. In the recent call with the global network of Athletes’ Commissions, an athlete from Yemen made the point and stated that it is not fair to punish athletes for the mistakes of their governments. Yemeni athletes are facing difficulties and challenges because of the war in his country. He explained how he continues to spread the values of sport in his community.
The IOC has always followed and will also follow in this case its policy to protect the athletes. Therefore, if this was implemented, the athletes who want to compete and would lose the support of their National Sports Federation and their National Olympic Committee because of government interference, could count on the direct support of the Olympic Movement’s Solidarity Fund for the Olympic community of Ukraine and the athletes’ support programmes of the IOC.
(Amended on 5 April 2023): What did the IOC say about the position of ministerial and senior representatives from “a collective group of nations” issued on Monday, 20 February 2023 and how has that been taken into account?
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