Reporter Lee Sang-cheol = Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once again strongly opposed the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Thirty-five countries, including Britain, the United States and Germany, also agreed to demand a ban on Russia and Belarus from participating in the Paris Olympics.
On the 11th (Korean time), President Zelensky participated in a video conference of ministers from 35 countries presided over by the UK and said, “Terrorist national athletes participating in the Olympics itself is an expression of violence and lawlessness. They have no place on the Olympic stage.” “Russia is a bloody country that cannot be covered with a white flag or a flag disguised as neutrality,” he said.
Zelensky said 228 Ukrainian players and coaches had died since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year.
“Many Russian athletes are associated with Russian national sports clubs,” he said, emphasizing that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be banned from participating in the Olympics as members of neutral countries.
“If murder and missile attacks are official Olympic events, everyone will know which national team will win first place,” he said. It’s only a matter of time before we force Russian players to join the war propaganda.”
Russia, which invaded Ukraine, and Belarus, which is helping it, have been sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Federation. 카지노사이트
However, recently the IOC caused controversy when it allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the Paris Olympics.
The IOC allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes who were not actively involved in the war to participate in the Paris Olympics as individuals, on the grounds that all athletes should be treated without discrimination under the Olympic Charter.
However, it added a proviso that it should not use its own national flag, emblem, or national anthem, but instead belong to a neutral country. They are also restricted from expressing their political views at the Olympic Village and Olympic Stadium during the Games.
Ukraine opposed the IOC’s decision and expressed its intention to boycott the Paris Olympics. In addition, European countries such as Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia criticized the IOC and showed a boycott of the Paris Olympics.
Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, the host of the 2024 Summer Olympics, also raised his voice, saying, “Bombs are still raining down on Ukraine.
The 35 countries also made it clear that they opposed the participation of Russia and Belarus in the Paris Olympics. “As long as Vladimir Putin continues the war, Russia and Belarus should not be allowed to be represented at the Olympics,” said Lucy Fraser, Britain’s Minister for Culture, Media and Sports.
However, it seems that there has not been a detailed discussion of the Olympic boycott between countries yet.
“It is not yet time to discuss a boycott,” said Polish Sports Minister Kamil Bortnichuk, suggesting that Russian and Belarusian athletes participate in the Paris Olympics as refugee teams rather than from neutral countries.
