Olympic chief Thomas Bach yesterday refused to give a timeline on potential Russian and Belarusian participation at next year’s Paris Olympics, saying a decision would be taken "at the appropriate time”."The IOC will take this decision at the appropriate time, at its full discretion, and without being bound by the results of previous Olympic qualification competitions,” Bach said after an executive board meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne."We want to monitor the implementation of these recommendations as long as possible... to be enabled to take an informed decision.”The board, he said, "did not consider it appropriate to give a timeline... no one knows what’s happening tomorrow or in nine months”.Bach added that the "participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 was not considered either in the consultations or in its deliberations today”."The IOC expressly reserves the right to decide about their participation at the appropriate time, even if they would be considered to have qualified according to the qualification criteria set by their respective International Federations (IFs)."The IOC will closely monitor the full implementation of these recommendations by all parties concerned."The results of this monitoring procedure will be an important factor in the decision by the IOC concerning the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.”‘Not lost yet’: Kyiv vows to keep pressure on IOC over RussiansUkraine will keep up pressure on the International Olympic Committee to prevent Russians from taking part in the Paris games next year, the country’s sports minister said yesterday."It is necessary to continue to put pressure,” Ukraine’s Youth and Sports Minister Vadym Gutzeit told AFP yesterday."And maybe the IOC will understand that, while there is a war in Ukraine, it is not the time for Russian and Belarusian athletes to return.”Athletes from Russia and Belarus have faced sanctions from a multitude of sports since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year.As Moscow’s assault on Ukraine stretches into a second year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended allowing athletes from Russia and Moscow ally Belarus to compete as individual neutrals in upcoming international competitions.The IOC says however it is yet to make a decision on whether Russians can take part at the Paris Olympics next year.The announcement, made late last month, angered Ukrainian authorities, who have accused the global body in charge of Olympics of promoting war.Gutzeit, who also chairs the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee, expressed hope that Western allies would help Kyiv to put pressure and keep Russians away."We have not lost yet,” he said.He took aim at IOC President Thomas Bach, accusing him of softening his stance a year into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine."President Thomas Bach was in Ukraine, and assured President Volodymyr Zelensky that he will be helping in the future,” Gutzeit said.Bach travelled to Ukraine for talks with Zelensky in July last year, several months after Russia invaded."What has changed?” Gutzeit said."Nothing has changed, it has only gotten worse. So many cities have been destroyed, so many people – women, children – have been killed.”Ukraine has threatened to pull out of the Olympic Games.Gutzeit said the final decision has not been taken yet.He said that for now Ukrainian athletes were preparing and training, but Kyiv could boycott the Paris Olympics if Russian and Belarusian athletes do take part."We are not talking about a boycott now,” he added.
April 12, 2023 | 01:01 AM