Council of Europe backs suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from 2024 Olympics

The Council of Europe supports the position to exclude athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

The PACE press service reports, quoting the Council of Europe's Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge.

"It is extremely difficult for me to agree with the fact that Russian and Belarusian athletes can participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as long as the Russian Federation, with the indirect and direct support of Belarus, is waging an absolutely unacceptable aggressive war against Ukraine," said the Deputy Secretary General at the meeting of the Committee on culture, science, education and media of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

He emphasized that the fundamental reason is the protection of the human rights of the Ukrainian people, as well as the restoration of peace.

Berge also raised the issue of integrity in sports:

"Several Russian and Belarusian athletes are members of the military or may be supported, particularly financially, by other sanctioned individuals. Although it may be difficult to prove this now, their integrity is at least in doubt," he said.

The Deputy General Secretary of the Council of Europe summarized:

"While the Russian Federation is waging its brutal and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine with the support of the Belarusian regime, we must protect the integrity of the sport and all athletes concerned. The exclusion of athletes from both countries becomes a necessity."

On Thursday, the PACE will consider the resolution on not allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris.

Background

The International Olympic Committee earlier allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to the world sports arena. They should act as neutral persons, provided they do not support the war in Ukraine and are not connected to the army.

At the end of March, the IOC recommended allowing Russians and Belarusians to compete, but under the condition of neutrality. This recommendation only applies to individual sports.

IOC President Thomas Bach stated that Olympic athletes should not become a tool in the hands of international politics.