Australian Olympic Committee, International Olympic Committee, Russia, Belarus athletes, Paris 2024, neutral athletes, Ukraine updates
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The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has backed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to continue sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
The agreement follows discussions at December’s Olympic summit amid the war in Ukraine.
In a statement released on Thursday, the IOC announced its stance would remain unchanged with athletes from Russia and Belarus allowed to compete at the Paris 2024 summer and Milan-Cortina 2026 winter Olympic Games, but as neutral athletes.
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In addition, no international sporting events will occur in Russia or Belarus, nor will the flags, anthems, colours or other forms of identification of those countries be displayed at competitions.
Government and state officials from those countries will also not be invited or accredited at international sports events.
The statement also reiterated the IOC’s « commitment to solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes » and the Ukrainian Olympic movement, encouraging all international federations, national Olympic committees and event organisers to do everything possible to assist Ukrainian athletes to continue competing.
AOC president Ian Chesterman said the national body supports this position.
« We are very clear that athletes from Russia or Belarus would have to compete as neutral athletes with no flags, colours or anthems at any qualifying events or at Paris 2024, » he said in a statement.
« Further, the Olympic charter must be respected by these athletes which means they cannot have supported Russia’s illegal war against the people of Ukraine.
« This remains an extremely complex issue to negotiate.
« The sanctions must remain and our support for Ukraine is unwavering.
Chesterman also acknowledged the important role the Olympic movement can play in unifying people.
« Equally, the role of the Olympic movement has always been to promote the role of sport to bring the world together and never to punish the athlete for the actions of governments, » he said.
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